Former N'awlins Chocolate City Mayor pleads 'Not Guilty' to corruption charges

Former N’awlins Chocolate City Mayor pleads ‘Not Guilty’ to corruption charges

Wed, Feb 20, 2013

Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin appeared before magistrate Sally Shushan on Wednesday and pleaded not guilty to corruption charges.

Nagin appeared in court at 2 p.m. It took less than 15 minutes for the afternoon proceeding.In magistrate court, a defendant can only plead not guilty. A magistrate judge then sets bond, hearing dates and a tentative trial date. A not guilty plea in front of a magistrate judge is required as a formality for anyone indicted on criminal charges.Nagin’s trial was set for April 29 at 10 a.m. His bond was set at $100,000 and he was asked to surrender his passport.

Nagin was charged in a 21-count indictment on Jan. 18. The charges include bribery, conspiracy, money laundering and more.

The indictment says Nagin accepted bribes from Frank Fradella, including $50,000, granite inventory, and nine payoffs in the form of wire transfers from Fradella totaling $112,500. The indictment also said that Nagin accepted approximately $72,250 in bribes from Rodney Williams and his company, Three Fold Consultants, LLC.

The indictment charges Nagin with accepting bribes and payoffs from consultants and contractors, money laundering conspiracy and filing false tax returns from 2005 to 2008.