NEW ORLEANS -- A woman serving 20 years in a case tied to a former Louisiana legislator has lost her bid for a new trial.
Gwendolyn Joseph Moyo was convicted in 2008 of fraud, conspiracy and money laundering. She complained that an FBI agent's testimony linking her with former Congressman William Jefferson tainted her trial.
But a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the contention Friday, saying that even if the jury should not have heard the testimony, the error was harmless.
Prosecutors said Moyo sold millions of dollars worth of bogus construction bonds and then laundered some of the proceeds with the help of then-state Sen. Derrick Shepherd.
Shepherd is serving 37 months for his role in the case.
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