Businessman Pleads Guilty to Bribing Former Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard
| U.S. Attorney’s Office August 16, 2012 |
NEW ORLEANS—William P. Mack, age 63, a resident of Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds, announced U.S. Attorney Jim Letten.
According to court documents, beginning in 2002, Mack, the president and owner of First Communications Company (FCC), a provider of telecommunications equipment and services, began a business relationship with then-Jefferson Parish councilman Aaron F. Broussard. This relationship entailed Mack paying Broussard approximately $1,500 per month in exchange for Broussard’s official acts to steer Jefferson Parish work to Mack and his company, FCC. By 2004, when Broussard was elected Jefferson Parish president, Mack continued to corruptly pay Broussard approximately $1,500 per month in exchange for Broussard’s efforts to steer work to FCC. As noted in the factual basis, during the time Broussard was Parish president, Mack paid him approximately $66,000, in exchange for, among other things, Jefferson Parish telecommunications work, collectively worth approximately $40,000.
Mack faces a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment, three years’ supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment. Sentencing has been set for December 6, 2012.
The case was being investigated by agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian M. Klebba and Matt Chester.