re: Shreveport baw pleads not guilty in $96 million investment scam

From last April, the Shreveport Times Society columnist digs deep to find the answer to a burning question:

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Will David and Kay deBerardinis, fraught with legal problems, attend the Holiday in Dixie Cotillion Friday to see their son presented at the glitziest society night of the year?

As we reported on other topics around town at various events, our interview subjects repeatedly asked about the deBerardinises' plans for the cotillion. So we asked.

And now we have an answer.

Kay deBerardinis told us Monday that she would attend the cotillion.

David is not planning to.

"I will attend and my mother will attend to support our son. David will not attend," Kay deBerardinis said in a telephone interview. "This is all about the kids."

Their son, Gentleman of the Court John Samuel deBerardinis, is a student at LSU.

Kay deBerardinis explained that John Samuel's sister had such a good time participating and they thought he would, too.

"And they asked us before any of these business issues started. We had already committed and paid the fees. It is a fun event for the kids," she said, expressing concern that The Times story would reflect badly on the Cotillion.

The extravagant black-tie event — being planned by ball chairman Noreen Dockendorf — is Friday at the Municipal Auditorium with the theme "A Fairytale Journey Through the Black Forest."

Rex LXIX Bill Broyles and Regina LXIX Tulane coed Queen Emily Paige Nelson will reign.

There has been much talk locally about investors who lost millions of dollars in investments allegedly tied to David deBerardinis.

Federal authorities have conducted searches of the deBerardinis home and David's business, seizing documents and financial records.

DeBerardinis has said he was acting as a middleman in trades between major energy companies. Eleven people have filed suit against either deBerardinis or his chief financial officer, alleging losses of more than $40 million.

In addition, KTBS reports "the wife (Kay) of embattled Shreveport businessman David deBerardinis has been ensnared in one of the civil actions against her husband." She was accused of being complicit in an alleged Ponzi scheme to divert tens of millions in investor monies to personal use, the Shreveport TV station reports.

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