Ray Nagin faces trial to decide his fate on federal corruption charges

Shortly after taking the oath as mayor of New Orleans, Ray Nagin -- a fresh-faced former cable executive eager to make his mark on a city widely seen as a hotbed for political corruption -- did something unusual. He orchestrated a massive raid one July morning in 2002 that led to more than 70 arrests, including members of the Taxicab Bureau, the Utilities Department, dozens of cab drivers and even a distant relative of Nagin.

While most charges were later dropped for lack of evidence, the raid sent a clear message: Nagin had positioned himself as an agent of change.

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Ten years later, Nagin stands accused of participating in the very cronyism he had vowed to combat. He is the first New Orleans mayor to face federal charges. And on Monday, he will be the first to stand trial, barring any last-minute plea deal.

Federal prosecutors charged Nagin in January 2013 with 21 counts of bribery, wire fraud and conspiracy, stemming from misdeeds they say go back to 2004. He could get more than 20 years in prison if prosecutors can prove he broke the law for a meager bounty of $300,000, a truckload or two of granite, a ride in a limousine and a few trips on a private jet.

More at http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2014/01/ray_nagin_trial.html#incart_maj-story-2 .