Two accused in levee bribery
A former Army Corps of Engineers consultant and a dirt subcontractor were indicted on bribery charges stemming from an investigation into levee work after Hurricane Katrina swamped New Orleans.
Durwanda Elizabeth Morgan Heinrich, a dirt, sand and gravel subcontractor, was accused of conspiring with two former corps workers to get confidential bid information for a $16.8-million levee project in September 2006.
In exchange, the indictment said, Heinrich promised to give the workers, Kern Carver Bernard Wilson and Raul Miranda, 25 cents for every cubic yard of material used to build levees near Lake Cataouatche.
The arrangement would have funneled nearly $300,000 each to Wilson and Miranda, the Justice Department said.
If convicted, Heinrich and Wilson face a maximum of five years in prison and fines. Miranda pleaded guilty to bribery in September. He faces up to 15 years in prison and fines.
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