Former Orleans Parish School Board Employee Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Federal Bribery and Honest Services Wire Fraud

According to court documents, BRIGHT admitted that beginning in September 2013 and continuing until January 2015, he and others participated in a conspiracy to commit bribery and honest services wire fraud.  BRIGHT admitted that he initiated a scheme to defraud Orleans Parish and its citizens of honest services through bribery and a kickback scheme, whereby IRA THOMAS, an Orleans Parish School Board member, used his public office and official capacity to provide favorable treatment, including attempting to facilitate the awarding of a contract, that was designed to benefit the business and financial interest of an individual who provided him with a bribe and kickback in the form of cash payment disguised as a campaign contribution.

“Today’s guilty plea is the most recent – but not the last – example of our commitment to fighting public corruption,” said U.S. Attorney Polite. “Our investigation in this matter continues.”

BRIGHT faces statutory penalties of up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.   U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan set sentencing for September 23, 2015 at 2:00 pm.

U.S. Attorney Polite praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Toomey is in charge of the prosecution.

Armer Bright Factual Basis.pdf (14.82 KB)