Ray Nagin Just Carrying On An Old New Orleans Tradition

Payoffs.

While in office, Mayor Ray Nagin accepted a $50,000 payoff and shipments of free granite from city vendor Frank Fradella, and after leaving City Hall, he became a highly paid consultant to Fradella, according to court documents filed this morning. Fradella was in federal court to plead guilty to one count of securities fraud and one count of conspiring to bribe Nagin, described in court documents as “Public Official A.”

The government’s description of that public official, as well as other clues, make clear that it is Nagin.

Nagin has not been charged. He has not responded to an email seeking comment. Robert Jenkins, who WDSU-TV has reported is his lawyer, has not returned calls from The Times-Picayune.