Former Monroe City Council Members Sentenced for Taking Bribes

SHREVEPORT, LA—United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today that former Monroe City Council members Arthur Gilmore Jr., 55, and Robert E. “Red” Stevens, 61, both of Monroe, were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Donald E. Walter. Gilmore received 24 months in prison and three years’ supervised release, and Stevens received 20 months in prison and three years’ supervised release for accepting cash bribe payments from an FBI cooperating witness in exchange for help with matters pending before the city council.

After a four-day trial, a federal jury found Gilmore guilty on May 16, 2013, of violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, more commonly known as the RICO Act. Stevens pleaded guilty on May 2, 2013, to violating the RICO Act. According to evidence in court filings, in 2008 and 2009, the defendants accepted cash bribe payments from a Monroe businessman who was working as a cooperating witness under the direction of the FBI. The payments were in exchange for their assistance with matters pending before the city council.

“This has been a long process, but in the end, after two trials, the jury and the judge heard the evidence and justice prevailed,” Finley stated. “These defendants abused their positions as public officials and, by selling their votes, violated the law and betrayed the community they were elected to represent.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation-Monroe Resident Agency and the Louisiana State Police investigated the case. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Van Hook and Counsel to the U.S. Attorney William J. Flanagan prosecuted the case.