July 9, 2014
NEW ORLEANS—
Disgraced former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin was sentenced on Wednesday to 10 years in federal prison on corruption charges.
A jury in February found Nagin guilty of charges that include bribery, wire fraud, conspiracy, money laundering and tax evasion, all in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
Nagin stirred national controversy with his erratic behavior after Katrina in 2005 breached floodwalls and inundated New Orleans, killing at least 1,500 people and leaving tens of thousands homeless.
Prosecutors said the combined value of the bribes, which included personal parties, private jet rides and first-class airfare for a family shopping trip to New York, totaled more than $500,000.
During the 10-day trial, prosecutors portrayed Nagin as a mayor on the take, granting favors for bribes that included tons of free granite delivered to a kitchen countertop company he ran with his sons.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-ray-nagin-sentenced-20140709,0,1631636.story