A Kenner businessman has pleaded guilty to paying former Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard kickbacks in exchange for parish contracts.

Federal prosecutors allege that 63-year-old Bill Mack paid Broussard $66,000 to steer parish work to his First Communications Co., which only received work valued at $30,000.

Mack is now the third figure to plead guilty in the federal government's ongoing investigation of fraud under the Broussard administration.

His sentencing is set for Dec. 6.

On July 27, a federal grand jury handed up a second superseding indictment charging Broussard and former parish government attorney Tom Wilkinson in connection with the Mack allegations. Wilkinson allegedly negotiated one of the bogus contracts with Mack. Their trials are set for Oct. 1.

Prosecutors described the particulars of Mack's guilty plea in the following news release/statement:

Beginning in 2002, 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 Aaron F. 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, MACK continued to corruptly pay Broussard approximately $1,500 per month in exchange for Broussard’s efforts to steer work to FCC.  As noted in the Factual Basis, during the time Broussard was Parish President, MACK paid him approximately $66,000, in exchange for, among other things, Jefferson Parish telecommunications work, collectively worth approximately $40,000.

    MACK faces a maximum penalty of five (5) years imprisonment, three (3) years supervised release, a $250,000 fine, and a $100 special assessment. Sentencing has been set for December 6,  2012.