News -> INDReporter THU, APR 15 12:04PM by Leslie Turk

Councilman Shelvin defaults on loan backed by minister

District 3 Lafayette City-Parish Councilman Brandon Shelvin is continuing to shirk his financial obligations, according to yet another lawsuit filed in state district court this week. This time, the bishop of his church and the bishop’s wife have been pulled into Shelvin’s ever-expanding financial crisis.

On Tuesday, Liberty Bank & Trust Co. filed suit against Shelvin, also naming Stanley and Cora Sinegal, claiming Shelvin failed to make an installment payment due Sept. 30, 2009, and has since failed to meet the terms of the note. On March 10, 2008, Shelvin borrowed $70,000, and the Sinegals pledged as collateral property they own at 755 JL Drive in Scott, valued at $100,000.

Stanley Sinegal, who returned a call about 12:45 p.m. today, told the INDsider he was unaware of the lawsuit and did not even know Shelvin was in default on the loan. “This is news to me,” says Sinegal, the bishop of First United Full Gospel Assembly at 400 Saint John St. in Lafayette. Sinegal says the transaction involved his partnership with Shelvin in the used car dealership, Thrifty Way Car Sales. “This was more to finance the vehicles that were being bought from the auction,” Sinegal says. “The dealership went bottom up, but I had no idea it was at this extent,” he adds, cutting the interview short. “I’m going to have to end this, because this is upsetting. I need to make a phone call. ... I’ll get back to you.”

New Orleans-based Liberty Bank & Trust, a minority-owned bank that has a location on South Academy Street in Opelousas, asked the court to seize the property so it can be sold to satisfy the debt, which is now the principal amount of $70,939.75, interest of $1,605.69 accrued last year from Sept. 12-Nov. 30, default interest of $20.20 per day since Sept. 12, 2009, until paid, late fees of $35.18 and court costs and sheriff’s costs associated with the planned sale of the property at 755 JL Drive. The order, a writ of seizure and sale, was signed by the court Tuesday.

If the property does not cover the entire debt, the Sinegals are personally obligated to pay it because they endorsed the note, according to a copy of the promissory note in the lawsuit.

In his biography on Lafayette Consolidated Government’s Web site, Shelvin is listed as an active member of First United Full Gospel Assembly “and played an integral role in the building of the church’s multi-faceted facility.” A source familiar with the church tells the INDsider Shelvin at one time was the church’s minister of music.

Shelvin did not return a voice mail message left on his cell phone this morning.

Read more about Shelvin’s legal and financial troubles in this March 3 Independent Weekly cover story, “The Problem with Brandon Shelvin,” and in this follow-up story.


Comments (13)add
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written by Buckley , April 15, 2010 - 07:16 pm
Why did'nt Mr B.S. put up his own house for collateral ? I mean he doesn't even live there...
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written by J. Alfred Proofrock , April 15, 2010 - 08:25 pm
The whole key to this comedy is the term "minority owned."
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written by Buckley , April 15, 2010 - 09:10 pm
If it's a comedy it's a sad one because it encourages the embracement of a number of stereotypes that hard working and long suffering African-Americans have striven to distance themselves from. There are still a lot of red necks out there all too eager to hold up Brandon as "typical".This man needs to step down because the damage he inflicts is far reaching. Step down and go away.Far away.
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written by ConcernedCitizen , April 15, 2010 - 10:59 pm
Once again, these are personal issue dealing with a failed business. Many businesses fail, its common place in the economy nowadays. Mr. Shelvin has done great things for my neighborhood and his community. Hold your head up Brandon, financial difficulties as I myself face don't make you a bad person, they make you human. Keep doing a great job and me and my entire family and neighborhood will always support you.
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written by beheard , April 16, 2010 - 02:36 pm
I am a resident in Mr. Shelvin's district, I did not support him when he ran for office and not very fond of his work thus far. But to continue to drag his PERSONAL financial struggles into public light is disgusting. The state of the economy over the last few years has made life hard for many people, it is a shame to seek out these hardships people go through and make them public. I understand he is a public official and THE IND feel this is news worthy,at some point a story gets OLD.
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written by Buckley , April 16, 2010 - 04:21 pm
His minister collatoralizes Mr B.S.'s loan with personal property. Mr B.S. has not made a payment on his loan since September of 2009;the loan goes into default;the lender sues to take possession of the collatoralized property and a court order is issued to do just that. The owner of the property finds about this by a reporter from the Independent AFTER the loan has been called in. Mr.B.S. did not even have the decency to tell the Bishop what was coming down.Yeah BEHEARD and CONCERNEDCITIZEN, this is one stand up guy. If he'll sell out his on minister what kind of job will he do for his constituents? This is not about a guy who is down on his luck financially, it is about someone without scrupples or character. But somehow being from your neighborhood makes him beyond reproach or accountability. Protect him all you want, but if your in his district (if that can be determined) you're gonna suffer at his hands more than anyone else.
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written by Morrow , April 16, 2010 - 07:55 pm
I believe it is imperative to make Mr. Shelvin's personal financial misdealings public. If he can't "man up" and be responsible with his own personal financial obligations, how am I to expect he's qualified or even willing to be responsible with governmental dollars??? Mr. Shelvin isn't "being picked on", boo hoo hoo. These situations take time to come to this point and when you scr*w your minister, you'll do it to anyone. I believe it speaks volumes about Mr. Shelvin's integrity.
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written by Morrow , April 16, 2010 - 07:59 pm
Someone check on what Mr. Shelvin collects in salary from the city/parish govt to serve on the council. I remember he gave himself a nice chunk of change RAISE not too long ago. I believe he could pay down some of these obligations, esp. to his pastor, with that money alone. Its not a fortune, but its not chump-change either.
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written by yesidoknow , April 17, 2010 - 03:52 am
The guy is a con man. He would sell snake oil to the infirm if he thought he could make a buck.
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written by NO-ONE'S HERO , April 17, 2010 - 05:15 am
Just as cream floats at the top, bs also floats at the top.
This couillion is one genuine, 18 carat politician.
I have to say, this lowlife fits in the political mix excellently !
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written by TheProblemIs , April 18, 2010 - 09:38 am
beheard, Brandon Shelvin puts together sentences quite nicely. He truly does fit your profile of a good elected public official: dishonest, but talks a good con as well as dishonest. You are a very scary person, beheard, though quite obviously not too bright with a skewed set of priorities.
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written by What,MeWorry? , April 18, 2010 - 04:52 pm
B.S. is just the kind of elected public official that Beheard wants to represent our people. B.S. was/is not a resident of the district he represents, he cannot/will not pay his debts, he cons people ( a minister) into co-signing a loan for $70,000, and then he defaults. BUT, he is able to form a complete sentence in order to articulate his thoughts. It doesn't matter that the thoughts of B.S. include misrepresenting himself to anyone and everyone. But, B.S. does speak well. Beheard, B.S. is in office because morons like you voted for him. Whoa! Does that sound familiar? The big difference between Hardy and B.S. is that B.S. is dishonest and is not representative of he honest hardworking people who believed in him and voted for him. B.S. cons and plays people every time he opens his mouth. And, up until Leslie Turk's articles, he has gotten away with it.
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written by S , May 04, 2010 - 03:04 am
Number one, how many of YOU have financial hardships that have often time found you unable to meet your obligations??

Secondly, Councilman Shelvin, though at one time enrolled in the church's ministy training classes, was never the church's minister of music.
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