The Morial Convention Center's public safety director faces a charge of malfeasance in office after a state Department of Public Safety officer found him and another convention center employee loading boxes of N95 masks into his car, The Times-Picayune | New Orleans Advocate reports.
Vernon Giscombe, age 58, faces up to five years in prison and a fine up to $5,000 if convicted.
According to the report, the DPS officer saw a woman leave the convention center late Friday night with two boxes, and place them in a silver sedan. The officer pulled the car over and found Giscombe driving. Giscombe reportedly told the officer he instructed the woman, who was not identified, to bring the boxes of N95 masks to him. Two more boxes of masks were reportedly found in a search of Giscombe's home.
The Convention Center is being converted into a "surge hospital" to handle COVID-19 patients who need treatment, but not intensive care. N95 masks are in short supply and the region's health care community is in critical need of the equipment.
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