Former New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin was convicted of 20 counts of federal corruption charges on Wednesday, the Christian Science Monitor said in a report. According to the US government, the two-term mayor was found guilty of accepting thousands of dollars in gifts and bribery money from vendors and contractors that visited the state after the massive destruction of Hurricane Katrina. It could be recalled that Nagin was publicly dissed by many due to the failed federal response after the catastrophic event managed to put the entire state in a standstill, CS Monitor said.
The bribery reportedly was done at the height of the huge recovery effort launched by concern individuals and groups all over the world. On the other hand, some of the charges filed against Nagin was prior to the 2005 catastrophe.
Sentencing of the ex-mayor is set on June 11, said CS Monitor. Based on the federal sentencing guidelines, Nagin is looking to serve over 20 years in jail.
Political scientist Michael Sherman at Tulane University in New Orleans, and ex-legal adviser to current mayor Mitch Landrieu said, "The physical evidence was so overwhelming that for Ray Nagin to have successfully defended this case, he would have had, in some way, to refute these documents and use his credibility."
Former federal prosecutor Tania Tetlow said that the people of New Orleans were mainly angry at Nagin due to his accomplishment rate. She said, "He got a lot of goodwill after Katrina, but what enraged people during this scandal was his failure to act and accomplish things. (The trial ultimately revealed the contrast between) the black hole of the mayor's desk in getting anything done for the city and how hard he worked for contractors who were paying him at the side."
Tetlow also added that Nagin's verdict could be a catalyst for change in the community of New Orleans as they instigate the clearing of house of corrupt politicians and public figures.
