Former Councilman Sentenced Today

Former New Orleans City Councilman was sentenced to 37 months in prison today. The judge scoffed, at the ex-councilman, for his actions:

"By all accounts, you could have been the next mayor," the judge told him.

For all his work, he was rewarded by constituents' votes and the power of office, Vance said.
But at a "critical time," Vance said, Thomas "sold out" and took a bribe.

"The defendant has not been truthful or fully cooperative," Judge Sarah Vance said in sentencing the former city councilman, who pleaded guilty to bribery and has refused to provide prosecutors with information on other public corruption. "Mr. Thomas, your actions are a tragic disappointment to this entire community."

Thomas earlier pleaded guilty to taking about $15,000 in exchange for helping to rig a French Quarter parking contract for Stan "Pampy" Barre, who told the government about the deal as part of his own plea agreement. Barre pleaded guilty to skimming money from a City Hall energy contract.