Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin was sentenced to 10 years in prison for bribery, money laundering, and corruption that occurred over his two-year term, including the years after Hurricane Katrina ravished the city.
Nagin, 58, was convicted on February 12 of accepting over half a million dollars from businessmen who wanted work to rebuild the city after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Nagin accepted bribes from the men, including cash, vacations, and supplies for his family business. In return he awarded city contracts to these businesses to work on various projects and Katrina rebuilding efforts.
He has denied any wrongdoing in the bribery schemes since his 2013 indictment and February trial. Before U.S. District Judge Helen Berrigan read the sentence, Nagin said, “I trust that God’s going to work all this out.” He did not issue an apology to those affected by his actions. His two grown sons, who were part of the family business that received construction goods from a contractor, did not face charges.
Prosecutors previously asked for a 20-year or more sentence in federal prison, to which Nagin’s legal defense rebutted that he would be taken away from his family. His defense argued that he is not in danger of committing any more crimes due to his term in office having expired.
Berrigan, in speaking with the court, said, “Mr. Nagin claimed a much, much smaller share of the profits in this conspiracy.” The judge noted character references showing Nagin displayed “a genuine if all too infrequent desire to help New Orleans and its residents.” Nagin is expected to report voluntarily to federal prison in Oakdale, La.
The former mayor was painted in the media as the savior of New Orleans. He was known for standing up to politicians in the wake of the slow aid response in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. His comments that “New Orleans would be chocolate again” angered some citizens.