Surprised MuppetsGreg Meffert may be surprised, but he shouldn't be. The Times-Pick-On-You reports:
A federal grand jury this morning indicted former city technology chief Greg Meffert, his wife, Linda Meffert, and his former friend and business associate Mark St. Pierre on 63 federal corruption charges in a lucrative bribery scheme related to the awarding of major technology contracts.
Federal prosecutors charge that Meffert, at one time one of Mayor Ray Nagin's most trusted advisers, was steering millions of dollars in taxpayer-financed contracts to St. Pierre's companies in exchange for $860,000 in kickbacks, including cash, credit card charges, grass-cutting and even payment of membership dues to two Carnival krewes.
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If not unexpected, the indictments still represent a bombshell of sorts. While Nagin's seven years in office have not been free of scandal, the grand jury's action marks the first time that corruption charges have been filed against a high-level member of his administration.
For four years, Meffert was among Nagin's most trusted and powerful aides, a man who eventually oversaw much of city government and called himself "deputy mayor." Not only were the two men neighbors, they also vacationed together at times -- on St. Pierre' s dime, according to records unveiled in the recent civil trial.
Watcha gonna do now, Meff? I'm sure the Feds would be interested if you can escalate things up the political food chain. Do you got any angles left to play, Meff, or are you and the missus going to risk a long stay at club fed?
Speaking of Nagin, the American Zombie (who has owned this story from before day one) recently heard that
within the last 2 weeks Nagin has been quietly shuffled in and out of federal court no less than 3 times. He has apparently been slithering down to the other end of Poydras street for what? I don't know...but I think we can all guess.
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