Editor's note: This story has been updated with an earlier photo of Derek Lewis from his time as Port Allen mayor. The original version used a booking photo from the West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office, which was the only image available at the time of publication.

Former Port Allen Mayor Derek Lewis has died, the West Baton Rouge Parish Coroner's Office confirmed to WBR Independent Thursday evening.

Lewis, 65, died in the emergency room at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge on Aug. 20. The coroner's office said the death is under active investigation by its Chief of Investigations.

The cause and manner of death have not been released.

Lewis was facing charges of third degree rape, indecent behavior with a juvenile and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile at the time of his death. He was arrested in August 2025 after a West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office investigation into sexual misconduct involving a juvenile at a shared workplace. His bond had been set at $250,000.

Lewis resigned as Port Allen mayor and pleaded guilty to federal racketeering charges in 2012 as part of Operation Blighted Officials, an FBI corruption investigation. He was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $19,000 in restitution after accepting bribes including Saints tickets, luxury hotel rooms and expensive dinners in exchange for municipal contracts.

This is a developing story. WBR Independent will update as more information becomes available.