Rogue Public Official Gets 17 Years In Prison For Assorted Corruption; Bad Acts Include Sales Of Land He Didn't Own To Church, Elderly Woman

In New Orleans, Louisiana, The Times Picayune reports:

• Jonathan Bolar upset an incumbent in 2001 to gain a seat on the Gretna City Council, in great part because voters believed his promises to work hard and to put their interests first. Mr. Bolar worked hard all right -- but to put his office up for sale.

• He extorted thousands of dollars from constituents who needed city permits. He twice sold land he did not own, to a church and to an elderly woman. He evaded paying taxes for a decade. In April, a jury convicted Mr. Bolar on 13 charges. The heavy price for such a resume of corruption came [last week], as U.S. District Judge Lance Africk sentenced Mr. Bolar to 17 years in prison. He also will have to pay $174,000 in restitution to his victims, in addition to $85,700 he already was ordered to forfeit.

For the story, see Former Gretna Councilman Jonathan Bolar, rogue public official, goes to jail.