Attorney Involved in Film Commission Bribe Sentenced
Attorney Involved in Film Commission Bribe Sentenced
NEW ORLEANS, LA—William E. Bradley, age 45, a resident of Hammond, Louisiana, was sentenced today in federal court before U. S. District Judge Lance M. Africk to ten (10) months’ imprisonment, for conspiracy to bribe a state official in connection with a program receiving federal funds announced United States Attorney Jim Letten. In addition, the defendant was ordered to pay a $5000 fine, and will be placed on three (3) years of supervised release following the term of imprisonment, during which time the defendant will be under federal supervision and risks an additional term of imprisonment should he violate any terms of her supervised release. In handling down the sentence, Judge Africk admonished the defendant stating, “This is another sad chapter in the history of public corruption which has plagued this state.”
According to court documents, Mark Smith, from 2003 to 2005 was the director of the Governor’s Office for Film and Television Development (GOFTD). BRADLEY, was an attorney who represented Louisiana Institute of Film Technology (LIFT), a company established by Malcolm Petal. BRADLEY and Smith, both lawyers, had become friendly in law school. Malcolm Petal, through two LIFT related companies, “LIFT – Break Beat, LLC” and “LIFT – Evil Remains, LLC” issued BRADLEY $135,000.00 in checks. BRADLEY cashed the checks and passed $67,500.00 in cash to Mark Smith. More than one million dollars in tax credits were issued by Smith for Break Beat, LLC.
Smith pled guilty to conspiracy and bribery on September 7, 2007 and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 29, 2009 before United States District Judge Kurt D. Engelhardt. Petal pled guilty to conspiracy on December 12, 2008 and was sentenced on April 9, 2009 before United States District Judge Lance M. Africk to five (5) years in federal prison a $15,000 fine and restitution of $1,350,000.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carter K.D. Guice, Jr., G. Dall Kammer and Peter M. Thomson.