Chun Ping “Eddie” Lau usually worked behind the scenes, crafting campaign websites, producing social media videos and consulting for high-profile politicians who hoped to win elected office in Louisiana.
But a recent cyber investigation that prompted his arrest has thrust Lau into the spotlight and put him at the center of a debate about whether spreading falsehoods on the campaign trail is a criminal act.
Lau, 47, faces one count of spreading knowingly false political information, a felony, though has not been invoked in decades and courts have previously declared it unconstitutional. The case has not been sent to the District Attorney's office yet, and Lau has not entered a plea.
He’s accused of sending false text messages to voters in a recent state Senate race that pitted two Republicans, Brach Myers and Jesse Regan, against each other.
Lau worked for Regan’s campaign. In the lead-up to the election, texts accused Myers of being aligned with Democratic voter groups that do not exist. They also showed fake images of him with high-profile Democrats.
Myers still won the election and filed a complaint with the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office the day after voters went to the polls. Even with a successful campaign behind him, Myers has no intention of letting go of the issue.
“When people lose and they pursue this, it looks like they’re a sore loser. When people win, they’re like â€Oh, I won,’ and they don’t pursue it,” Myers said. “I’m maybe the one person who won and said, â€I still want to make sure that this gets pushed.’”
Lau stopped responding to messages for this story after briefly speaking to a reporter and saying he would talk more later. He also did not respond to messages asking if he has retained an attorney.Â
Who is Eddie Lau?
Lau is well-known in political circles, and has worked for a plethora of elected officials, most of whom are Republicans with ties to Acadiana.
Lau describes himself as “the â€original’ Asian Cajun” on his Facebook profile, and is a 2023 University of Louisiana at Lafayette doctoral graduate in educational leadership.
“My core strengths lie in government relations, legislation and policy analysis,” Lau wrote on LinkedIn. “I have a track record of securing grants, contracts and partnerships, aiding clients in achieving their objectives while creating meaningful social impact.”
Lau's arrest is only related to his work in the Regan-Myers campaign, and he has not been criminally accused of wrongdoing in other campaigns. But his work has touched some of the highest levels of political office in the state, and he received $4,500 this February for consulting for one of Gov. Jeff Landry’s political action committees.
Many who have worked with Lau say his arrest was a surprise, and that they saw him not as a campaign manager but as a digital guru who is known for his marketing work and community involvement.
Two law professors in Louisiana have also raised concerns about freedom of speech protections and whether the case can even be prosecuted under a law that the Louisiana Supreme Court deemed unconstitutional in 1989.
“He was professional,” said Ken Stansbury, a Lafayette Parish Council member who paid Lau $3,000 for a video and website during his 2023 campaign.
“He did a good job on my video … I’m surprised he would do something like this to jeopardize his main business.”
Lau's political connections
Politicians have paid Lau and his businesses more than $500,000 for work on their campaigns over about seven years, according to the Louisiana Board of Ethics. Lau has also donated about $20,000 to politicians through his businesses.
The governor’s Cajun PAC II paid $4,500 to Lau’s RM Partners this February for consulting work. Lau’s businesses also contributed $2,000 to Landry’s campaigns in 2020 and 2023.
Kate Kelly, a spokesperson for Landry, declined to comment for this story.
Baton Rouge’s newly elected Mayor-President Sid Edwards, also a Republican, paid $3,000 to RM Partners last November for text message services and "get out the vote" efforts.
“Mr. Lau’s company is a commonly utilized consultancy in the field of text messaging for a variety of campaigns that have been held throughout the state,” said Falon Brown, spokesperson for the mayor-president.
And state Sen. Blake Miguez, R-New Iberia, spent more than $46,000 with Lau individually and through his PAC in 2023 and 2024.
Miguez opened an office last year inside of the same business complex where Lau’s business offices are located, at 1600 Camellia Boulevard in Lafayette.
Miguez did not return messages for this story.
Regan, the Republican former Broussard council member who ran against Myers, also runs his loan business, Preferred Lending Solutions, out of the same complex where Miguez and Lau work.
Regan spent nearly $37,000 in 2024 and 2025 with Lau during his campaign for state senate, which included campaign management, cellphone contact data transfer and other services. Regan declined to comment for this story.
Allegations come as a surprise
Greg Lord, a semiretired Leesville doctor who ran for state representative in 2019, spent more than $43,000 with Lau for advertising, campaign communications and more. He said he met Lau only once or twice and that he primarily worked with Lau’s business partner, Greg “Goose” Gossen.Â
"Eddie was a good partner and we worked diligently for every client we represented," said Gossen, who was business partners with Lau from 2019 to 2022. "Eddie Lau was very professional and ethical in all of our interactions with clients and business dealings during our partnership."
Lord described Lau as a straightforward number cruncher.
“He had a good personality, very humble, very nice, from what I remember," Lord said.
Logan Lannoo, who ran an unsuccessful campaign last year for a seat on the Youngsville City Council, paid Lau about $10,000 for social media and other work.
Lannoo said Lau never suggested anything ethically dubious.
“I wouldn’t have entertained it,” Lannoo said. “But I’m currently trying to make sure I’m still in the clear and distance myself from this because I’m as disgusted as anybody if this is to be true. It’s not how I play ball.”
The investigation continues
After Myers’ complaint, investigators seized electronic devices at Lau’s home and business addresses.
Lau was arrested, booked and released March 13 from the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center on a $2,500 bond.
In the race between Myers and Regan, Republican voters received multiple text messages with false information.
One message in early February said The Lady Democrats of Acadiana had endorsed Myers. That group disbanded in 2022 and its former leaders have publicly said they had no involvement and their group name was used to send a false endorsement.
Another message invited recipients to a bingo event, showing a fake image of Myers alongside two Democrats, U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields, D-Baton Rouge, and former Vice President Kamala Harris. The text stated it was paid for by Acadiana Progressive Community Outreach, another group that does not exist.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill may prosecute the case because 15th Judicial District Attorney Don Landry said he will likely ask to be recused. Landry has worked with Lau before.
Murrill said she wouldn’t speak directly about a case she may prosecute.
“Generally, I defend the laws of the state of Louisiana,” Murrill said. “When it’s constitutionally attacked, I defend it unless I think it’s flagrantly unconstitutional.”
In a different race last year that Lau was involved in, voters received similar texts from nonexistent political groups.
Youngsville Police Chief Jean-Paul “JP” Broussard paid Lau as a political consultant when he ran against Cody Louviere last year.Â
A text that said it was paid for by the Louisiana Republican Citizens Group questioned Louviere’s political affiliation, stating that he only recently registered as a Republican. That group is not registered with the state. Both candidates are Republican.
The election was close. Louviere, who had served as interim police chief for more than a year, lost to Broussard by just 15 votes during the December runoff.
Myers said he wants to see accountability and he does not believe Lau acted alone.
No others have been arrested so far.
“It doesn’t end there,” Myers said. “It just doesn’t.”
