Today, Derrick Shepherd faced reality and the tremendous evidence arrayed against him. Instead of attempting to fight the federal charges in court, Shepherd pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. In addition, Shepherd resigned his position in the Louisiana State Senate and could face a jail sentence of up to 20 years.
This is a sad and shocking fall from grace for a politician who at one time had a bright political future. Shepherd was originally elected to the State House of Representatives and was so successful in the legislature that, soon thereafter, he was elected to the State Senate.
Originally, Shepherd was considered a voice for reform and a politician with integrity. Over time, that reputation changed and a disturbing side of Shepherd's character was exposed. His tremendous ambition eventually proved to be his undoing. By 2006, Shepherd was a candidate in the race for the 2nd congressional district. He strongly opposed incumbent Bill Jefferson and according to one report was involved in physical altercation with the congressman. He finished a respectable third in the race, but, surprisingly, Shepherd raised eyebrows when he endorsed Jefferson in the run-off.
It now seems that Shepherd was well compensated for his endorsement. Federal authorities maintain that Jefferson steered indicted bond broker Gwendolyn Moyo to Shepherd. She is a Jefferson associate who needed help in processing $141,000 in checks since her checking accounts were frozen. To the rescue was Derrick Shepherd who cashed the checks and, for his trouble, pocketed $65,000, not a bad commission for such a minor bit of work. This raised the concerns of federal authorities who saw this as a payoff for Shepherd's endorsement of Jefferson in the run-off.
So, with his guilty plea, Derrick Shepherd enters the Louisiana Political Hall of Shame, joining a large and unsavory cast of characters such as Oliver Thomas, Edwin Edwards, David Duke, and Bill Jefferson. All of these people disgraced the State of Louisiana and embarrassed the people who sent them to office.
Unfortunately, the Louisiana Political Hall of Shame keeps growing. In fact, if it were housed in an actual building, it would have to be as large as the Louisiana Superdome, a sad testament to the state of Louisiana politics today.
Jeff Crouere is the Host of “Ringside Politics,” which airs at 7:30 p.m. Fri. and 10:00 p.m. Sun. on WLAE-TV 32, a PBS station, and 7 till 11 a.m. weekdays on WGSO 990 AM in New Orleans and the Northshore. He is the Political Analyst for WGNO-TV ABC26 and the Political Editor for NewOrleans.com. For more information, visit his web site at RingsidePolitics.com. E-mail him at jeff@ringsidepolitics.com
Did ya'll see the FINGERNAILS??!?!!!!! OMG! The woman holding onto Derrick Shephard's arm, leaving the courthouse today-- had long, curly fingernails
(GA-ROSS!) .. like a Circus-Lady!.... (Watch the lead story on Cox Ch.15 WWL replay).. or tonight's newscasts will have it again. (I can't eat my dinner now) Written by KjunLady
on 10/10/2008
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Getting this city back on its feet as quickly as possible is reform. Use of the Charity Hospital existing buildings is the quickest and most efficient and least expensive way of getting medical help to all people in this city. Now let's show some reason. Written by RhettsWife
on 10/10/2008
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Charity being rebuilt is no part of reform and neither was Huey...likely why Gov Jindal isn't listening. Written by
on 10/10/2008
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So let me see, William 'dollar bill' Jefferson was stone cold caught (ha-ha-ha) with $90,000.00 of the $100,000.00 the F.B.I. video taped him recieving, and no one is wondering about the missing $10,000 (which interestingly enough amounts to a 10% commission, hummmmm, who did he stop off and have dinner with on his way to his capitol crib) and he is not being censored by Congress, is going to be allowed to run for reelection to Congress and folks are still going to vote for him and??????????????????????????????????????? Someone got 60+K from him for cashing a check? And his relatives have been skimming "thieving" from funds intended to help disadvantaged youth, and WHO is voting for this piece of dogcrap??????????? Now this Shepherd guy...... Ehhhhhh, sort of hard to keep ones hands clean when you are always shaking hands with dirty people........ Sooner or later it rubs off or so it seems...... Oh well, sorry to hear that Mr. Shepherd.... My little trick is to just remain anti-social, or fairly abrasive.... That works for me... Written by
on 10/10/2008
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um... "convenience" Written by oh u no what I meant
on 10/10/2008
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Well, the man had the guts in the long run to admit what he had done. Give him that credit. Yes he should be ashamed of himself because if he had played his cards right, he would have done a whole lot better for himself, this city, and this nation. The details show what he really had allowed himself to become. His apology "This was a private matter, what I did wrong. I also want to apologize to the children, especially the young black kids who always tell me they look up to me. I apologize and I want you to know that you have to do the right thing at all times and when you do wrong, even one time, one split second, it will cost you and it cost me. It cost me my political career, my legal career, as well as my military career. That’s the price I have to pay." At least he stood up like Barre and did something positive. Now the rest of us have a responsibility and that is to bring this city together, stop the blood running on the streets, improve education, get hospitals back in shape (hint Mr. Jindal, get to work on the original Charity that Huey Long built), etc. To the City Council of New Orleans we give kudos for their recent demands relative to those so called crime cameras. Let's make it work. Now Wall Street and the rest of the gang better get to work also. Let's see the Feds looking at that. Written by RhettsWife
on 10/10/2008
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So... yet another "voice for reform" turns out to be "less than honest." Will we ever learn? Technology now allows us to vote - with a swipe card similar to our credit cards - on issues without having to line up at the polling places. We the people can decide many of the most important issues - perhaps at ATMs? - by swiping a card and voting at our convience. This is do-able and would 1)lessen the power of our elected officials; 2) give lobbyists less reason to bribe these elected officials as the people would decide many major initiatives and 3) provide a means whereby the electorate would have a far greater say so in our governance. Written by kpf
on 10/10/2008
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