
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A businessman close to ex-New Orleans mayor Marc Morial and the city's former top property manager face an arraignment hearing as part of an ongoing federal probe into municipal corruption.
Businessman and restaurateur Stan "Pampy" Barre was charged with taking tens of thousands of dollars in kickbacks from a city subcontractor, then sharing the money with Kerry De Cay, the director of property management under Morial. Morial, now head of the New York City-based National Urban League, was not named in the indictment. However, his administration, which ran the city from 1994 to 2002, has been under federal investigation for several years over its contracting practices.
Other businessmen close to Morial are known to have received subpoenas, but the recent charges are the first major indictments in the continuing investigation. The indictments center around a $65,000,000 contract to upgrade chillers, boilers, lights and other energy-related fixtures in city buidlings. De Cay oversaw the contract with Johnson Controls Incorporated of Milwaukee; Barre was hired as a subcontractor.
Federal officials say Barre did little or no work for Johnson, though he was paid thousands by them. They say Reginald Walker, another Johnson subcontractor, funneled $546,000 to Barre, who then shared the money with De Cay and a Johnson official. Walker was indicted; the Johnson official was not.
A fourth person indicted and facing arraignment this afternoon is Julius Lips Junior, who provided a custom-made glass table for De Cay. The arraignment is scheduled for 2 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Louis Moore Junior.
One person is dead and another is badly wounded after a shooting early Thursday morning in Assumption Parish, according to officials.
More >>One person is dead and another is badly wounded after a shooting early Thursday morning in Assumption Parish, according to officials.
More >>The cities of Walker and Denham Springs have officially filed suit against the state of Louisiana and all contractors involved in the I-12 widening project, saying the concrete barrier wall on I-12 caused the devastating flooding in August to Denham Springs and Walker.
More >>The cities of Walker and Denham Springs have officially filed suit against the state of Louisiana and all contractors involved in the I-12 widening project, saying the concrete barrier wall on I-12 caused the devastating flooding in August to Denham Springs and Walker.
More >>A 21-year-old man accused of killing another man during an argument has been arrested.
More >>A 21-year-old man accused of killing another man during an argument has been arrested.
More >>Warrants have been signed to have the Baton Rouge man accused of murdering his parents returned to Tennessee. The document also reveal new information related to the investigation.
More >>Warrants have been signed to have the Baton Rouge man accused of murdering his parents returned to Tennessee. The document also reveal new information related to the investigation.
More >>The coldest weather of the season is coming up.
More >>The coldest weather of the season is coming up.
More >>A Concord man was fired after attending his son's birth, rather than showing up for his Saturday shift one morning.
More >>A Concord man was fired after attending his son's birth, rather than showing up for his Saturday shift one morning.
More >>Four people have been arrested in Chicago in connection with an apparent case of torture of a special needs man that was streamed on Facebook live.
More >>Four people have been arrested in Chicago in connection with an apparent case of torture of a special needs man that was streamed on Facebook live.
More >>His friend was unconscious, hanging 10 feet from the ground, his backpack strap wrapped around his neck. The man said he knew he had to act fast.
More >>His friend was unconscious, hanging 10 feet from the ground, his backpack strap wrapped around his neck. The man said he knew he had to act fast.
More >>A North Carolina Highway Patrol trooper was caught on camera flying by a group of motorcyclists on New Year's Day.
More >>A North Carolina Highway Patrol trooper was caught on camera flying by a group of motorcyclists on New Year's Day.
More >>Family members and friend of the nine victims of the Charleston church shootings sobbed through testimony in the sentencing phase of the federal trial against the convicted gunman.
More >>Family members and friend of the nine victims of the Charleston church shootings sobbed through testimony in the sentencing phase of the federal trial against the convicted gunman.
More >>Newly-released surveillance video shows the moment a suspect pulled out a gun inside a Wal-Mart and opened fire on two Chandler police officers, striking both men multiple times. The video also shows one of the wounded officers tumble through a display sign and return fire, killing the suspect.
More >>Newly-released surveillance video shows the moment a suspect pulled out a gun inside a Wal-Mart and opened fire on two Chandler police officers, striking both men multiple times. The video also shows one of the wounded officers tumble through a display sign and return fire, killing the suspect.
More >>The woman’s uncle says the number of viewers grew too quickly for such a tragic video.
More >>The woman’s uncle says the number of viewers grew too quickly for such a tragic video.
More >>The committee's session is the first in a series aimed at investigating purported Russian cyber-attacks against U.S. interests and developing defenses sturdy enough to blunt future intrusions.
More >>The cities of Walker and Denham Springs have officially filed suit against the state of Louisiana and all contractors involved in the I-12 widening project, saying the concrete barrier wall on I-12 caused the devastating flooding in August to Denham Springs and Walker.
More >>The cities of Walker and Denham Springs have officially filed suit against the state of Louisiana and all contractors involved in the I-12 widening project, saying the concrete barrier wall on I-12 caused the devastating flooding in August to Denham Springs and Walker.
More >>