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New Orleans ex-mayor Ray Nagin indicted New Orleans ex-mayor Ray Nagin indicted
(35 minutes later)
Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin has been charged with 21 counts including wire fraud, bribery, filing false tax returns and money laundering.Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin has been charged with 21 counts including wire fraud, bribery, filing false tax returns and money laundering.
The charges come amid an investigation that has already seen two businessmen and two former city officials plead guilty. Mr Nagin, mayor from 2002-10, came to national attention in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans.
Mr Nagin was mayor from 2002-10. He came to national attention in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. Prosecutors say Mr Nagin, 56, accepted payments, travel, granite, and other illicit gratuities in exchange for city contracts and other favours.
His indictment in the case has been long expected. At least four Nagin associates have already pleaded guilty in the case.
Mr Nagin, 56, is accused of using his office for personal gain and of accepting bribes and other illicit gratuities while the city of New Orleans reeled in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Fall from grace
According to the federal indictment, Mr Nagin accepted more than $160,000 (£100,000) in bribes for his family business. According to the federal indictment, Mr Nagin accepted more than $160,000 (£100,000) in bribes for his family granite business.
In exchange, Mr Nagin allegedly helped local businessman Frank Fradella secure millions of dollars in contracts from the city in the wake of Katrina. In exchange, Mr Nagin helped local businessman Frank Fradella secure millions of dollars in contracts from the city in the wake of Katrina, prosecutors have said.
Mr Nagin is also charged with accepting payoffs worth at least $60,000 from another businessman, Rodney Williams, who was given contracts for engineering, management and architectural work in the city.Mr Nagin is also charged with accepting payoffs worth at least $60,000 from another businessman, Rodney Williams, who was given contracts for engineering, management and architectural work in the city.
Fradella and Williams have already pleaded guilty in connection with the case. Fradella and Williams have already pleaded guilty in connection with the case and are expected to testify against the former mayor, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
Two former officials in Mr Nagin's administration have also pleaded guilty to corruption charges dating from their time at city hall.
Mr Nagin was a cable television executive before he entered public life in 2002.
He was backed strongly by white voters in his first run for mayor, styling himself as a candidate with bipartisan appeal and a progressive agenda.
Mr Nagin was thrust into the national spotlight during Hurricane Katrina and was re-elected to a second term as mayor in 2006.
Subsequently, a surge in violent crime, the slow pace of reconstruction, and the burgeoning corruption scandal at city hall undermined his popularity.
Since leaving office in 2010 he has stayed out of the political spotlight and has reportedly relocated to Dallas, Texas.