Former St. John Parish President Sentenced for Conspiracy to Solicit and Receive Bribes
| U.S. Attorney’s Office January 20, 2011 |
NEW ORLEANS, LA—WILLIAM J. HUBBARD, a/k/a Bill Hubbard, age 49, a resident of LaPlace, Louisiana, was sentenced today in federal court by U.S. District Judge Jay C. Zainey to 42 months in prison for conspiracy to solicit and receive bribes, announced U.S. Attorney Jim Letten. In addition, the defendant was ordered to pay a $50,000 fine and serve three years’ supervised release during which time he will be under federal supervision and risks additional imprisonment should he violate any terms of the release. He was also ordered to perform 250 hours of community service in St. John Parish.
According to court documents, HUBBARD, who pled guilty on September 25, 2009, was the elected President of St. John the Baptist Parish, and as such, he was authorized, with approval from the St. John Parish Council, to enter into contracts for professional services on behalf of St. John Parish. HUBBARD admitted that he solicited $20,000 in bribes from three vendors who had contracts or were seeking to obtain contracts with St. John Parish. HUBBARD further admitted that he used the money to help purchase a Toyota Camry for his 31-year-old female friend with whom HUBBARD was having a sexual relationship.
Speaking to today’s developments, U.S. Attorney Letten stated: “Today’s federal prison sentence imposed on former St. John Parish President Bill Hubbard reflects recognition of his corrupt conduct and violation of trust as a public official. It also reflects recognition of the recommended sentencing guidelines by the government and the court, as well as Mr. Hubbard’s continuing cooperation in this and other corruption investigations. It is important that the public understands that the investigation which yielded Mr. Hubbard’s conviction continues, and that we will make every effort to address public corruption where ever we find it.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Further, the United States Attorney’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation would like to thank the Metropolitan Crime Commission for their assistance in this matter. The prosecution is being handled by Assistant United States Attorneys James R. Mann and Brian M. Klebba.