Ex-La. Gov. Edwards Enters Federal Prison
Flamboyant former Louisiana Gov. Edwin W. Edwards reported to a federal prison to begin a 10-year sentence for extorting money from riverboat casino-license applicants.
Edwards, 75, was a four-term governor who dominated Louisiana politics for 30 years but faced numerous corruption charges throughout his career. He has said he told friends and family he expects to die behind bars.
Edwards surrendered to authorities at a federal prison in Fort Worth, holding a list of telephone numbers, a diary and a Bible. He issued a defiant statement to reporters before entering jail, saying he did nothing wrong.
“I took no money from the state treasurer. I did not fool with the taxpayers’ money. I took no kickbacks for contracts,” Edwards said.
The former governor said he spent his final day as a free man walking his dog and eating a hamburger at a diner in Louisiana.
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