A developer in New Orleans has pleaded guilty in a scandal that may implicate former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin. According to documents in the case, Nagin may have accepted a $50,000 payout.
The case involves a redevelopment project that a vendor in the city wanted. “Official A,” largely believed to be Nagin, received a $50,000 transfer from a member of the board of directors of one of developer Frank Fradella’s company. The involvement of the middleman was intended to hide the illegality of the transfer.
Also included in the scandal were truckloads of granite, which were shipped to the Nagin family countertop business.
Fradella’s company never received the redevelopment project.
From Nola.com:
While in office, Mayor Ray Nagin accepted a $50,000 payoff and shipments of free granite from city vendor Frank Fradella, and after leaving City Hall, he became a highly paid consultant to Fradella, according to court documents filed this morning. Fradella was in federal court to plead guilty to one count of securities fraud and one count of conspiring to bribe Nagin, described in court documents as “Public Official A.”
The government’s description of that public official, as well as other clues, make clear that it is Nagin.
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