Ex-New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin Charged with Fraud, Bribery

Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, who led the city during Hurricane Katrina, was indicted on 21 felony counts, including wire fraud, bribery and money laundering.

Nagin served as mayor from 2002-2010 and during the powerful hurricane broke local flood walls and inundated most of the city, killing some 1,500 people and wrecking tens of thousands of homes.

U.S. District Judge Ivan Lemelle read a summary of the grand jury's charges in federal court today in New Orleans, according to Reuters.

Two federal prosecutors, Matthew Coman and Richard Pickens, confirmed the indictment during a brief hearing.

"I have been handed a grand jury return on an indictment today signed by 22 grand jurors and signed by the foreperson," Lemelle said. The judge then read the charges against Nagin, who was mayor from 2002 to 2010.

Greg Meffert, a former technology official and deputy mayor under Nagin, pleaded guilty in 2010 to charges he took bribes and kickbacks in exchange for steering city contracts to businessman Mark St. Pierre. Anthony Jones, who served as the city's chief technology officer in Nagin's administration, also pleaded guilty to taking payoffs.

The counts against Nagin include wire fraud, bribery, money laundering, filing false tax returns and conspiracy. Greg Meffert, a former technology official and deputy mayor under Nagin, pleaded guilty in 2010 to charges he took bribes and kickbacks in exchange for steering city contracts to businessman Mark St. Pierre. Anthony Jones, who served as the city's chief technology officer in Nagin's administration, also pleaded guilty to taking payoffs.

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