GREENSBURG, La. (AP) — The leader of the governing body of a south Louisiana parish has been arrested on charges of bribery and malfeasance in office.
St. Helena Parish Police Jury President Frank Johnson was arrested Monday, the Louisiana Attorney General's Office said. Johnson has since posted bond and been released, authorities said. There's no word on whether he has an attorney who could speak on his behalf.
In a statement, Attorney General Jeff Landry's office said a criminal investigation was opened “based on allegations of official misconduct pertaining to disaster relief contracts, following emergency declarations resulting from Hurricane Ida.”
Johnson was arrested for allegedly soliciting a bribe in exchange for influencing an emergency disaster relief contract, a spokesman for Landry's office said.
“As this is now an open prosecution, we will refrain from commenting further,” said Cory Dennis, Landry's press secretary.
Johnson was sworn in to represent district 4 in 2020, and was elected to serve as police jury president of the five-member board by his peers, the television station said.
The Louisiana Attorney General’s Office has turned over their findings in the case to the 21st Judicial District Attorney’s Office, which is part of the metropolitan Baton Rouge area.
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