Oliver Thomas pleads guilty to taking bribes
11:23 AM CDT on Monday, August 13, 2007 [SIZE=-1]WWLTV.com
[/SIZE] City Councilman-At-Large Oliver Thomas has pled guilty to one count of public bribery for taking $15,000 in exchange for trying to promote and help keep in place a parking lot contract. He could face up to ten years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Thomas entered the plea in court Monday morning in front of Judge Sarah Vance. He is cooperating with the ongoing investigation into City Hall corruption, according to federal prosecutors.
U.S. Attorney Jim Letten said that the crime began when Stan "Pampy" Barre approached Thomas in 2002 concerned that he might lose a contract he had for parking in the French Quarter with incoming Mayor Ray Nagin.
Letten said that Barre asked Thomas to use his position on the council to try to push the contract to continue or that its termination would at least be delayed. Letten said that at the initial meeting Barre paid Thomas $10,000 in cash and later made another $5,000 payment. He said future payments went through a middleman.
Thomas has been on the council for 13 years. He is one of two at-large members and is the council's vice president.
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