This Is Very Interesting, Ollie

Feds Ask Judge To Be Lenient
Defendant helps put Oliver Thomas in Prison

The government's motion provides an interesting peek into how Thomas came to be a target of federal prosecutors, as well as the roles that Jourdain and convicted restaurateur Stan "Pampy" Barré played in making the case against the popular councilman.

During the feds' probe into the city's energy contract with Johnson Controls Inc., the document says, investigators discovered four checks written from Barré to Jourdain in 2002. After Barré pleaded guilty to three felony counts in January related to the contract, FBI agents and prosecutors grilled him about the checks.

Stan "Pampy" Barre probably cried like a baby during the grilling.

Barré, who had signed a plea agreement requiring him to cooperate with prosecutors, explained that the checks were part of a larger bribe he paid to Thomas in hopes of getting the councilman to help him keep a parking contract.

Bribery is the only thing Stan "Pampy" Barre knows how to do well.

Thomas had been named in 2002 to the board of the French Market Corp., a public agency that owns various properties in and around the Vieux Carré, including three parking lots near the French Quarter's downriver end.

A company owned by Barré had snared a share in the operation of the lots during the administration of Mayor Marc Morial, a Barré confidant. With the sun setting on the Morial years, Barré sought to persuade Thomas -- who was thought to be close to incoming Mayor Ray Nagin -- to go to bat for him to keep his share.

What did Stan "Pampy" Barre have to give up, during the previous administration, in order to snare a share in the operations of the lot?

Thomas wanted Barré to pay him $15,000 in cash, as well as to install Jourdain -- the brother of Thomas' chief of staff, Andrea Mumford -- as a silent partner in the deal, Barré told investigators. Thomas directed Barré to give Thomas one-third of his proceeds. Barré complied, paying him with checks.

Oliver Thomas must have had previous experience in collecting bribes when he orchestrated this plan. This is not what someone would do if they had never engaged in bribery.

Each time Barré made a payment to Jourdain, Thomas followed up and asked Jourdain for a cut. Jourdain gave him $1,000 in cash on four occasions, according to the government.

Oliver Thomas thought Jourdain would shield him from getting caught.

The prosecution's motion notes that investigators initially had no proof, other than Barré's word, linking Thomas to the deal. But when they interviewed Jourdain, the document says, he "contacted an attorney and agreed to cooperate."

We know we cannot trust only Stan Pampy" Barre's word. But for Jourdain's cooperation, the case would not have been made.

Agents and prosecutors interviewed Jourdain three times, the motion says, and he "provided essential corroboration as to both Thomas' and Barré's roles in this scheme." For instance, Jourdain gave investigators "details of meetings and payoffs with Thomas and Barré" and also "provided documents and records and assisted investigators in interpreting checks and payment records."

When Stan "Pampy" Barre made allegations against Una Anderson last month, was their details of meetings and payoffs with Barre and Una's husband? Could Barre provide documents and records that would assist the feds in interpreting the alleged bribery? If not, why would anyone give any weight to Barre's allegations?

"As a direct consequence of Jourdain's cooperation, the government secured a guilty plea from Oliver Thomas, thereby avoiding a costly and complicated trial," the motion concludes.

One reason why Jourdain should receive leniency.


Along with arguing that Jourdain's help was essential in making the case, prosecutors maintain that Jourdain played only a peripheral role in the scheme, and that Thomas was truly the bad actor.

Another reason why Jourdain should receive leniency.

"The government believes that Jourdain was used by Thomas in an effort to insulate and conceal Thomas' involvement in this bribery scheme," it says. "This scheme was not conceived by Jourdain. Jourdain would likely have never become involved in this criminal activity but for Thomas directing Jourdain to contact Barré on his behalf."

Well Ollie, is this how God uses you? It sounds more as if you are Satan's right hand man.