In news that shocked exactly no one, former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, 56, was indicted today on 21 counts of corruption by the feds.  He’s looking at 15 years in prison, according to the Times-Picayune.

So what happened?  Officials say Nagin awarded city contracts in exchange for over $200,000 in bribes and first-class trips to Hawaii, Jamaica and Las Vegas during his two terms as mayor of New Orleans.  And some of it happened during the recovery from Hurricane Katrina.

The indictment alleges that, between 2005 and 2008, Nagin:

  • Accepted more than $70,000 in bribes from a consultant who later won more than a dozen public works contracts with the city.
  • Received paid lodging and vacation expenses for himself and his family in Hawaii and was flown first-class to Jamaica by a city contractor.
  • Accepted a free private jet trip to Chicago and Las Vegas from another contractor.
  • Enriched his New Orleans-based family granite supply company through dealings with the city.

--USA Today

Of course, he now lives near Dallas, Texas, so it will be harder for New Orleanians to beat him up.

And Nagin’s not the first go down, as two other city officials and two businessmen have already pleaded guilty from the same investigation.  Nagin will be in court at the end of the month to be arraigned.

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