Former New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin was released early from federal prison Monday due to the COVID-19 pandemic after serving seven years of a 10-year sentence on corruption charges, according to The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate.
The former mayor walked out of jail early thanks to a memo from Attorney General William Barr that ordered the release of inmates who are at risk for coronavirus.
Nagin was a “perfect” candidate for release given his lack of prior criminal record and because he served, according to the Times-Picayune | Advocate.
Nagin served as mayor from 2002 to 2010 (re-elected in 2006 and terming out in 2010).
He was re-elected despite his response to Hurricane Katrina, but later indicted on 21 federal corruption charges related to accepting thousands of dollars in bribes and free granite slabs for a family business in exchange for city contracts.
A jury found Nagin guilty on 20 out of 21 charges and he was sentenced in 2014 to 10 years in prison, which was below the 15 to 20 years recommended by federal sentencing guidelines.