NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Three judges heard oral arguments about former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin’s corruption case Monday morning. Last year, Nagin was sentenced to ten years in federal prison for 20 counts, including fraud, bribery, money laundering and more. Nagin’s lawyers argue that he was wrongfully convicted because jurors were given poor instructions, and the differences between bribery and gratuity were not clarified.
On Monday, Nagin’s lawyers argue with bribery you have to show the reason for the official act is payment. Gratuity is just a reward given after an action.
Bribery has a recommended sentence of 15 years while gratuity is just two years. They say since the instructions were poor when it came to this count, it also undermines the other counts Nagin was convicted of.
Prosecutors argued that with gratuity there is a “surprise payment” later. The payments given to Nagin were no surprise, but planned, and generated certain actions. They went on to say this is a classic bribery case, that holds public officials accountable, there’s no reason to throw this judgment away and redefine bribery.
It could take a few weeks before the three judges make a decision.
