06:01 PM CDT on Tuesday, August 24, 2004

Stephanie Riegel / WWL-TV News Reporter

For nearly two years, Jefferson Parish Judge Alan Green's name has surfaced in connection with the long-running investigation into corruption at the Gretna Courthouse, but charges were never filed. Now, Eyewitness News has learned that Green has received a target letter from the federal government informing him he's facing indictment. Norman Bowley, the former chief financial officer for bail bond mogul Louis Marcotte, also received a target letter.

"It's certainly no surprise to get a target letter,” said Bowley’s attorney Pat Fanning. “We've been talking to the government about this case for over two years."

Fanning confirmed his client received the letter Monday. Judge Green's attorney declined to comment. But, sources say the letter informs both men they're facing indictment on charges including conspiracy, mail fraud and RICO. The letter goes on to invite them to testify before a Grand Jury Wednesday, and gives them between now and Sept. 1 to meet with the U.S. Justice Department in Washington if they're interested in trying to make a deal, something Fanning says his client won't do.

"I don't think my client has done anything illegal and we expect to have our day in court and be vindicated eventually," he said.

If indicted, Bowley and Green would be the ninth and tenth defendants charged in the five-year-old corruption probe. It's a probe that centered on convicted bail bondsman Louis Marcotte, who is now a cooperating witness for the government, and his attempts to bribe judges at the courthouse in return for manipulating bonds. One of those judges was Ronald Bodenheimer, whose arrest in 2002 first brought the investigation to light. He too has pled guilty to federal charges and is cooperating in the probe.

Green was allegedly another of those judges taking bribes from Marcotte. That's according to court documents that identified him as Judge A, and later, specifically, by name. According to those documents, Green was recorded by the FBI accepting cash in his chambers from Bowley. Fanning says it wasn't a bribe, but a campaign contribution and it wasn't even from his client.

"Louis Marcotte, the government's boy, made the campaign contribution,” he said. My client was an employee of Mr. Marcotte. He was asked to bring something to Judge Green and he did."

Green has also maintained his innocence in the past. Still, his pending indictment is yet another blow for a courthouse still reeling from scandal.

"Anytime a judge gets indicted it' a black eye,” said legal analyst Chick Foret. “It’s certainly not a surprise, it's not a sucker punch, but it's still going to cause a black eye."