The NAGIN Timeline
February 10th, 2012
From the Nola.com / Times-Picayune story on what we hope is the coming Nagin indictment.
December 2004:
The Ray Nagin family goes to Hawaii and meets up with Greg Meffert’s family in Maui. Mark St. Pierre, whose company Imagine Software, operates Nagin’s city technology office, pays for the Nagins’ airfare.
Feb. 28, 2005:
Frank Fradella’s Home Solutions of America acquires countertop installer Cornerstone Building and Remodeling Inc. from Anthony Leeber Jr. Cornerstone announces the receipt of major countertop contracts with The Home Depot in Louisiana.
November 2005:
St. Pierre lines up a private jet to take the Nagins to Jamaica, according to testimony later given by Meffert. But Nagin isn’t sure of travel dates, so Meffert gives a St. Pierre corporate credit card to Nagin’s secretary, who purchases first-class commercial airline tickets for the Nagin family.
Early 2006-August 2006:
St. Pierre provides lawn maintenance services worth a total of about $1,500 for Nagin’s home on Park Island.
March 2006:
Leeber is pushed out of Home Solutions’ Cornerstone subsidiary. Leeber says Fradella then guts Cornerstone and in 2007 delivers “inventory and equipment” to Nagin’s family company, Stone Age LLC.
May 8, 2006:
Nagin has fund-raiser in Chicago hosted by St. Pierre and others. Records show St. Pierre paid for Nagin’s airfare.
June 1, 2006:
Nagin is sworn in for second term.
Jan. 20-22, 2007:
Aaron Bennett provides mayor with private jet leased by a Home Solutions subsidiary to go to Chicago and Las Vegas, where Bennett introduces Nagin to Frank Fradella.
January 2007:
Bennett begins getting paid by city to pay St. Pierre for technology office work.
April 2007:
Stone Age LLC lands deal supplying and installing countertops for four Home Depot stores.
April 13, 2007:
Times-Picayune publishes story about private jet to Chicago, Vegas. Nagin later uses public money to pay Bennett $1,852 for airfare.
August 2007:
Home Solutions press release mentions that former Home Depot executive Larry Laseter is the new president of Home Solutions’ interior services division.
March 23, 2008:
Times-Picayune publishes story about Stone Age’s deal with Home Depot.
April 2008:
Home Depot ends deal with Stone Age.
April 17, 2008-Nov. 17, 2008:
Nagin’s calendar notes nine different meetings with Fradella. All are initially blacked out when his schedule is released.
Nov. 1, 2010:
Meffert pleads guilty to conspiracy, filing false tax return. He goes on to testify against St. Pierre. His sentencing has been delayed until May.
May 26, 2011:
St. Pierre is convicted on 53 federal corruption counts and later is sentenced to 17½ years in prison.
May 31, 2011:
Fradella is indicted in Texas on securities fraud charges.
Oct. 14, 2011:
Aaron Bennett pleads guilty to bribing Plaquemines Parish sheriff. His sentencing has been pushed back until June.
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