Corruption Cases In The New Orleans' Area

From the Associated Press Via KatC-News


Defendants and details of recent high-profile corruption cases in the New Orleans area:

STAN BARRE, a businessman, and KERRY DeCAY, former director of property management for the city of New Orleans.

_ Each pleaded guilty in January 2007 to conspiracy to commit mail fraud against the city and Johnson Controls Inc., a company dealing in energy efficiency and climate control. Barre has been cooperating with federal investigators.

_ Federal prosecutors called this a kickback and fraudulent billing scheme tied to a contract meant to reduce city expenses. The pleas were among several in a years-long investigation of corruption under former Mayor Marc Morial's administration. Morial hasn't been accused of wrongdoing. Update: Kerry Decay received a 9 year prison term. Barre is awaiting sentence.

ELLENESE BROOKS-SIMMS, former New Orleans school board member.

_ Pleaded guilty in June to conspiracy to commit federal program fraud.

_ Accused of conspiring with a local businessman from 2001-2004 to buy a software program for the public school system and accepting about $140,000 in bribes for promoting the software. The federal charge did not identify the businessman. At least 29 people have been charged, and 23 guilty pleas entered, in this years-long federal probe of the Orleans Parish school system, according to the U.S. attorney's office.

JOSEPH IMPASTATO, former St. Tammany Parish councilman.

_ Pleaded not guilty in May to charges including making false statements on federal tax returns and extortion and money laundering in a hurricane debris-removal contract. His trial has not yet taken place.

WILLIAM JEFFERSON, U.S. congressman, New Orleans.

_ Pleaded not guilty in June in U.S. District Court in Virginia to a 16-count indictment alleging he solicited bribes from companies while using his influence to broker business deals in Africa. Jefferson's attorneys have sought to have bribery charges dismissed.

MARK SMITH, former director of the state film commission

_ Pleaded guilty in September to conspiracy and bribery.

_ Accused of taking $65,000 in bribes for approving inflated movie budgets that allowed a film company to get state tax credits from 2003-2005.

OLIVER THOMAS, former New Orleans City Council president.

_ Pleaded guilty in August to bribery of a public official

_ Accused of taking $15,000 in bribes in 2002 from Barre, who wanted to keep a parking lot contract he held under the Morial administration. Once seen as a potential mayoral candidate, Thomas resigned his council seat in August.
Update: Thomas sentenced to 37 months in federal prison.

___