Former Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard and former parish attorney Tom Wilkinson were charged today in a 27-count superseding indictment by a Federal Grand Jury says U. S. Attorney Jim Letten.

The two are charged with conspiracy, bribery, wire fraud, and theft concerning programs receiving federal funds.

Letten's office says today's superseding indictment adds six new counts.  The Superseding Indictment charges Broussard and Wilkinson with conspiracy to commit bribery and charges Broussard with five counts of substantive bribery.  

According to court documents, beginning in 2002, William P. Mack, the President and owner of First Communications Company (FCC), a provider of telecommunications equipment and services, began a business relationship with then-Jefferson Parish councilman Broussard.  This relationship entailed Mack paying Broussard approximately $1,500 per month in exchange for Broussard's official acts to steer Jefferson Parish work to Mack and his company, FCC.  

By 2004, when Broussard was elected Jefferson Parish President, the U.S. attorney's office claims Mack continued to corruptly pay Broussard approximately $1,500 per month in exchange for Broussard's efforts to steer work to FCC.  During the time Broussard was Parish President, Letten's office says Mack paid him approximately $66,000, in exchange for, among other things, Jefferson Parish telecommunications work, collectively worth approximately $40,000.

U.S. Attorney Jim Letten reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.