NEW ORLEANS – A businessman has pleaded guilty to plotting to bribe a former New Orleans public official to steer work his way.
Rodney Williams entered the federal plea Wednesday.
Court papers just refer to Public Official A, but his tenure matches former Mayor Ray Nagin's term in office. Williams' attorney Ralph Capitelli wouldn't identify the official. But he said, "it would be the worst investigative reporter on the planet who couldn't figure out who Public Official A is."
Nagin has not been charged.
Prosecutors say Williams made more than $72,000 in payoffs between 2007 and 2010 to the official — who also owned a granite installation company.
Nagin and his two sons obtained a contract to install granite countertops for local Home Depot stores after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
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