WASHINGTON - Ray Nagin, who served as mayor of New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina battered the city in 2005, was indicted Friday by a federal grand jury on corruption charges, US law enforcement officials said.
The indictment claims that Nagin handed lucrative city contracts to consultants and contractors in exchange for more than $230,000 in bribes and kickbacks, including free granite for his family business, personal services and free trips. Nagin, 56, is also charged with money laundering conspiracy and filing false tax returns from 2005 to 2008.