A massive network of family members and friends helped 10 inmates elude capture after they escaped a New Orleans jail by cutting a hole behind a toilet, with authorities now arresting 14 accomplices as two fugitives remain at large.
At a Glance
- Ten inmates escaped from a New Orleans jail over two weeks ago by cutting a hole behind a toilet
- At least 14 people, mostly friends and family members, have been arrested for assisting the fugitives
- Accomplices provided food, shelter, transportation, and financial support to the escapees
- Authorities have increased rewards to $50,000 per fugitive as they continue searching for the remaining escapees
- Many accomplices face felony charges with bonds set at $1 million or higher
Family Ties Become Criminal Liability
The investigation into last month’s New Orleans jailbreak has expanded beyond the escapees themselves to include a growing network of accomplices who provided critical support to the fugitives. Court documents reveal that at least 14 people, primarily family members and friends, have been arrested for aiding the inmates after they escaped by cutting a hole behind a toilet. These individuals now face serious criminal charges for providing resources that helped the escapees evade law enforcement.
The support network for the fugitives was extensive and well-coordinated. Accomplices provided food, cash, transportation, and shelter to the escaped inmates. Seven of those arrested had direct ties to escapee Lenton Vanburen, Jr., including family members who actively assisted him after his escape. Police reports indicate that many of these accomplices used sophisticated methods to avoid detection, including internet phone services and money transfer apps.
Prison is trending because it’s about to New Orleans, in Osun State.
Rainfall caused a prison fence to collapse aiding 7 inmates to escape from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Ilesa, Osun State.
Now the search is underway.
Just like the incident in New Orleans, on… pic.twitter.com/Azvw3ohGHQ
— Trending Explained (@TrendingEx) May 21, 2025
Former Jail Employee Among Those Charged
A former jail employee has been implicated in the escape, allegedly driving one of the fugitives to a relative’s home and facilitating a FaceTime call with family members. This individual had previous charges dropped after completing a pretrial diversion program before becoming involved in the current situation. Additionally, a jail plumber was arrested for allegedly aiding the escape, though his attorney maintains he was simply unclogging a toilet as part of his regular duties.
“We understand that some of you might be reporting a friend, a loved one, a relative and albeit not easy, it is critical to your safety and the safety of the public that you report them”, said Jonathan Tapp.
The investigation has uncovered complex relationships between the escapees and their helpers. In one case, a woman who assisted an escapee had a history of being abused by him and misled authorities about his whereabouts. In another instance, the sister of one fugitive reportedly told others that her brother “never gets caught” while actively hindering the manhunt by providing false information to investigators.
High Stakes for Those Who Helped
The consequences for those who assisted the fugitives are severe. Most face felony charges of accessory after the fact, with bonds set at $1 million or higher. One Louisiana woman is accused of sending cash to a fugitive through financial apps, while others lied directly to authorities or provided transportation to help the escapees move between hiding locations. Court records indicate that most of those arrested have not yet secured legal representation.
As the manhunt enters its third week, authorities have increased the reward to $50,000 per fugitive to encourage public cooperation. Law enforcement officials continue to stress the importance of community assistance in capturing the remaining escapees. Some individuals involved in aiding the fugitives are named in police reports but have not yet been formally charged, suggesting that the network of accomplices may be even larger than currently known.
