NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Former longtime Louisiana State Senator Karen Carter Peterson’s law license was revoked on Thursday after she pleaded guilty to wire fraud earlier this month.
A petition, filed by the state Office of Disciplinary Counsel, prohibits Peterson from practicing law immediately.
The motion comes after Peterson was charged with defrauding the Louisiana Democratic Party when she was chair of the organization. Court documents say Peterson defrauded campaign donors from 2010 until earlier this year, resulting in her resignation in early April. Peterson was also accused of using the stolen money for gambling, which she publicly recognized that she was struggling with.
During the arraignment on August 1, Judge Sara S. Vance deferred Peterstons’s guilty plea of a single charge of wire fruad. If convicted, Peterson could face a maximum of 20 years in prison and pay a fine of up to $250,000. She is set to appear in court for sentencing on December 7.
Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter.