OLIVER THOMAS, FORMER NEW ORLEANS CITY COUNCIL MEMBER SENTENCED TO OVER 3 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - OLIVER THOMAS, age 50, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced today to thirty-seven (37) months in prison, followed by three (3) years of supervised release, a $6,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment after pleading on August 13, 2007 to accepting cash bribes as a New Orleans City Councilman, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten today.

THOMAS entered a plea of guilty on August 13, 2007 before U. S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance to one count of a Bill of Information charging him with the federal felony of bribery of a public official. THOMAS must report to the Federal Bureau of Prisons on January 3, 2008 to begin his prison term.

According to Factual Basis outlining the crimes to which THOMAS admitted at the time of his guilty plea, THOMAS solicited and received illegal bribe payments from Stanford "Pampy" Barré, through a middleman, Joseph Jourdain, following a request by Barré for assistance in maintaining a lucrative parking contract which he (Barré) had with the French Market Corporation (FMC) of City of New Orleans in 2002. As a result of the arrangement, THOMAS initially received $10,000 in cash as a bribe payment from Barré, who later delivered another $5,000 in cash for a total of $15,000 in bribes to THOMAS. Thereafter, on four (4) occasions, pursuant to the arrangement, Barré gave Jourdain checks in varying amounts, after which time Jourdain in turn provided THOMAS with illegal cash payments of between $3,000 and $4,000 in kickbacks, despite the fact that Jourdain never provided any work or investments for Barré's company. On each of these occasions, Jourdain concealed the criminal conduct of bribery by paying THOMAS cash in order to avoid a traceable record of the payments.

Prior to today's imposition of the prison term upon THOMAS, the United States filed with the sentencing Court a motion - which was initially sealed - advising the Court that OLIVER THOMAS had admittedly and intentionally withheld information regarding evidence of the criminal conduct observed, in direct contravention of his cooperation agreement with the United States.

Speaking to today's sentence, U. S. Attorney Jim Letten stated:

"The prison sentence imposed by the U. S. District Judge on Oliver Thomas today sends two strong, clear and unmistakable symbols -

- First, that any public official who violates the law and the public trust will be detected and will pay a high price for that betrayal of trust; and

- Secondly and just as importantly, anyone who violates our laws and who is called upon to truthfully cooperate in providing evidence of other illegal activities will not be permitted to ignore or violate that obligation.

We in the U. S. Attorney's Office and FBI will continue to relentlessly pursue and follow any evidence of corruption in government, in order to maintain the zero tolerance for public corruption upon which the rebuilding of this great city depends."

FBI Special Agent in Charge James Bernazzani added:

"The cooperation of individuals who have been found guilty of public corruption is but one tool in the FBI's investigative tool box. Notwithstanding this apparent lack of cooperation, the FBI ensures the people of Greater New Orleans that the FBI has sensitive and ongoing public corruption investigations involving a variety of investigative techniques, to include, but not limited, to the cooperation of convicted defendants. The FBI will not rest in its efforts to ensure that the people of New Orleans, who have been victimized by these vicious storms , will not again be victimized by corrupt public officials."

Judge Vance will sentence THOMAS' co-defendant, Joseph Jourdain on December 12, 2007 and Stanford Barré's sentencing is set for January 9, 2008 before U. S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier.

This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by First Assistant United States Attorney Jan Maselli Mann and Assistant United States Attorneys Brian M. Klebba, Jon Maestri and Brian Capitelli.

United States Attorney Jim Letten Eastern District of Louisiana FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: KATHY ENGLISH NOVEMBER 21, 2007 PHONE: (504) 680-3068 WWW.USDOJ.GOV/USAO/LAE <http://WWW.USDOJ.GOV/USAO/LAE> FAX: (504) 589-4978

OLIVER THOMAS, FORMER NEW ORLEANS CITY COUNCIL MEMBER SENTENCED TO OVER 3 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - OLIVER THOMAS, age 50, of New Orleans, Louisiana, was sentenced today to thirty-seven (37) months in prison, followed by three (3) years of supervised release, a $6,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment after pleading on August 13, 2007 to accepting cash bribes as a New Orleans City Councilman, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten today. THOMAS entered a plea of guilty on August 13, 2007 before U. S. District Judge Sarah S. Vance to one count of a Bill of Information charging him with the federal felony of bribery of a public official. THOMAS must report to the Federal Bureau of Prisons on January 3, 2008 to begin his prison term. According to Factual Basis outlining the crimes to which THOMAS admitted at the time of his guilty plea, THOMAS solicited and received illegal bribe payments from Stanford "Pampy" Barré, through a middleman, Joseph Jourdain, following a request by Barré for assistance in maintaining a lucrative parking contract which he (Barré) had with the French Market Corporation (FMC) of City of New Orleans in 2002. As a result of the arrangement, THOMAS initially received $10,000 in cash as a bribe payment from Barré, who later delivered another $5,000 in cash for a total of $15,000 in bribes to THOMAS. Thereafter, on four (4) occasions, pursuant to the arrangement, Barré gave Jourdain checks in varying amounts, after which time Jourdain in turn provided THOMAS with illegal cash payments of between $3,000 and $4,000 in kickbacks, despite the fact that Jourdain never provided any work or investments for Barré's company. On each of these occasions, Jourdain concealed the criminal conduct of bribery by paying THOMAS cash in order to avoid a traceable record of the payments. Prior to today's imposition of the prison term upon THOMAS, the United States filed with the sentencing Court a motion - which was initially sealed - advising the Court that OLIVER THOMAS had admittedly and intentionally withheld information regarding evidence of the criminal conduct observed, in direct contravention of his cooperation agreement with the United States. Speaking to today's sentence, U. S. Attorney Jim Letten stated: "The prison sentence imposed by the U. S. District Judge on Oliver Thomas today sends two strong, clear and unmistakable symbols - - First, that any public official who violates the law and the public trust will be detected and will pay a high price for that betrayal of trust; and - Secondly and just as importantly, anyone who violates our laws and who is called upon to truthfully cooperate in providing evidence of other illegal activities will not be permitted to ignore or violate that obligation. We in the U. S. Attorney's Office and FBI will continue to relentlessly pursue and follow any evidence of corruption in government, in order to maintain the zero tolerance for public corruption upon which the rebuilding of this great city depends." FBI Special Agent in Charge James Bernazzani added: "The cooperation of individuals who have been found guilty of public corruption is but one tool in the FBI's investigative tool box. Notwithstanding this apparent lack of cooperation, the FBI ensures the people of Greater New Orleans that the FBI has sensitive and ongoing public corruption investigations involving a variety of investigative techniques, to include, but not limited, to the cooperation of convicted defendants. The FBI will not rest in its efforts to ensure that the people of New Orleans, who have been victimized by these vicious storms , will not again be victimized by corrupt public officials." Judge Vance will sentence THOMAS' co-defendant, Joseph Jourdain on December 12, 2007 and Stanford Barré's sentencing is set for January 9, 2008 before U. S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier. This case was investigated by Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by First Assistant United States Attorney Jan Maselli Mann and Assistant United States Attorneys Brian M. Klebba, Jon Maestri and Brian Capitelli.