Federal Crime Corruption Conviction Sends Nagin to Federal Prison for 10 years

Former New Orleans Mayor Sentenced  To 10 Years In Federal Prison

Ray Nagin, the former New Orleans mayor, was indicted for federal crimes on January 18, 2013 on 21 corruptions charges in Federal Court. Nagin served as mayor from 2002 to 2010. He gained attention nationwide after Hurricane Katrina. On February 20, 2013, he pleaded not guilty in Federal Court to all federal crimes charges.  He was, however, later convicted after a federal jury trial on 20 of the 21 federal crime charges. The federal crime charges came three years after he left office. Nagin was just recently sentenced to 10 years in prison and was facing 20 years under federal sentencing guidelines. Judge Berrigan sentenced Nagin to ten years prison, which is a downward departure from the federal sentencing guidelines. He also was ordered to pay $84,264 in restitution. His report date is September 8, 2014 and he is supposed to report to a minimum security federal prison in Oakdale, La.

The Charges

Prosecutors said Nagin accepted free travel. The Government also said he  funneled money into his sons’ company called Stone Age. The allegations were that he received free granite, which he gave to his sons. The federal crimes charged in the federal indictment included bribery, wire fraud, money laundering, conspiracy and filing false tax returns. Most of the federal crimes came from men looking for city work after Hurricane Katrina. Many individuals who plead guilty in the scheme testified against Nagin at the trial. It is rumored that Nagin is going to appeal his federal crime conviction and vehemently denies any wrongdoing. Nagin accepted no responsibility at the sentencing hearing. Nagin’s wife and sons sent letters to Judge Berrigan before sentencing and have stuck by him throughout the case.

Federal crimes are extremely serious and individuals charged in Federal Court need to be represented by an experienced Federal crime attorney. Even with a downward departure sentence, federal sentences can be daunting. Keller Criminal Defense Attorneys is located on the same block as the Federal Courthouse in Downtown Minneapolis in Minnesota. Max A. Keller has defended many individuals in Federal Court. Call us ASAP at 952-913-1421 for a free consultation if you have been charged with a white collar crime in state or federal court or a federal crime in Minnesota Federal Court.

Max Keller has won countless jury trial cases involving misdemeanors and felonies, sex crimes, and DWI’s. He is a member of the Minnesota Society for Criminal Justice, which only allows the top 50 criminal defense attorneys in the state as members. Max is a frequent speaker at CLE’s and is often asked for advice by other defense attorneys across Minnesota.

Years of Experience: Approx. 20 years
Minnesota Registration Status: Active
Bar & Court Admissions: State of Minnesota Minnesota State Court Minnesota Federal Court 8th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals State of Maryland

What to Do If You Have Been Charged with a Criminal Offense

Stay calm and compose after getting accused of a crime but not charged in Minneapolis, MN. Do not discuss the facts of your case with anyone, including your relatives and family members. Hire a criminal defense attorney with a demonstrated record of winning cases like yours. Your attorney will discuss your rights, guide you on how to cooperate with law enforcement within the legal boundaries, and build a solid defense strategy to fight the charges you could face in the future.
Expungement and sealing of records in Minnesota affect how your criminal history appears to government agencies and the public. The main difference between the two legal actions is that expungement permanently removes past arrests, criminal charges, or convictions from private and public databases, while sealing hides the criminal record from the public. Courts, government entities, and law enforcement agencies can access sealed criminal records.
Minnesota recently passed a public safety bill that brings sweeping changes to the state’s juvenile justice system. While minors sometimes run afoul of the law, the juvenile justice system seeks to account for the differences between children and adults. Therefore, while the penalties for adults convicted of crimes focus on punishment, those for juveniles are aimed at diversion and restorative practices.