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Former New Orleans Mayor Sentenced to 10 Years

Ray Nagin received a 10-year prison sentence after being convicted on corruption charges.

The former mayor of New Orleans, Ray Nagin, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. Nagin, the 58-year-old two-term mayor, held office during Hurricane Katrina.

Five months ago, a jury convicted Nagin on 20 out of 21 charges of bribery, fraud and money laundering. U.S. District Judge Ginger Berrigan opted to give a lighter sentence than prosecutors wanted. Berrigan argued that the evidence didn’t show that Nagin organized or led a corruption scheme. (Federal sentencing guidelines suggested he should face as much as 20 years in prison.) Berrigan ordered Nagin to report to a minimum security prison in Oakdale, a city in central Louisiana, on Sept. 8.

For more detailed coverage on the case, The Times-Picayune in New Orleans has a recap on the sentencing, the reaction by federal prosecutors and incremental live updates during the July 9 court hearing.

J.B. Wogan is a Governing staff writer.
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