Feb.12, 2010, 08:31 AM
A former Louisiana lawmaker who pleaded guilty to helping an unlicensed bond broker launder money apologized before a judge sentenced him Thursday to more than three years in prison.
"I know I've used poor judgment and I've disappointed the court and my community," former state Sen. Derrick Shepherd told U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier before he was sentenced to 37 months in prison and ordered to pay a $45,000 fine.
Shepherd, who pleaded guilty in October 2008 to conspiracy to commit money laundering and resigned from the Senate, already was in federal custody before his sentencing. Barbier had revoked Shepherd's bond last month following his arrest on outstanding warrants.
The judge noted that Shepherd came from "humble beginnings" to launch a promising political career, which included an unsuccessful congressional campaign in 2006.
"I never knew you, but I saw your career from a distance and I was pretty impressed," Barbier said. He called Shepherd a "huge disappointment" to his family, friends and former constituents.
"You've brought shame to yourself, your family, your community," Barbier said.
The Marrero Democrat, a lawyer, was charged with helping Gwendolyn Joseph Moyo launder some of the proceeds from her sale of millions of dollars worth of bogus construction bonds. Moyo was sentenced to 20 years in prison after a jury convicted her in 2008 of fraud, conspiracy and money laundering.
During her trial, Moyo claimed she was caught in the middle of a government plot to bring down former U.S. Rep. William Jefferson and his sister, New Orleans tax assessor Betty Jefferson, who were identified as unindicted coconspirators in the case.
Shepherd ran against William Jefferson in 2006, but finished third in the primary.
William Jefferson, who referred Shepherd to Moyo, was convicted of unrelated corruption charges by a federal jury in Virginia. Betty Jefferson and three others have been charged in New Orleans with engaging in a scheme to pocket government grant money earmarked for charitable and educational programs.
After Shepherd was charged in the money laundering case, he was arrested on suspicion of assaulting his ex-girlfriend. Barbier, who referred to that incident during Thursday's sentencing hearing, ordered Shepherd to undergo mental health and substance abuse treatment in prison.
John Reed, Shepherd's lawyer, said his client showed courage in taking responsibility for his actions.
"He did so knowing the consequences were drastic for him," Reed said. "He has tried to atone and make amends for what he has done."