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Former S&WB member pleads guilty to kickback scheme

by Michael Luke / Eyewitness News

wwltv.com

Posted on February 4, 2010 at 2:51 PM

Updated Thursday, Feb 4 at 5:26 PM

NEW ORLEANS – A former New Orleans Sewerage & Water Board member changed his plea to guilty in federal court Thursday.

Benjamin Edwards initially pleaded not guilty to the 33-count indictment, but pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of tax evasion on Thursday.

Edwards was accused of soliciting nearly $3 million in kickbacks. His brother, Bruce Edwards, and another pastor, Bishop O.C. Coleman have already pleaded guilty in the case.

Prosecutors said Edwards forced contractors to donate to a church where he claimed to be a pastor in exchange for work with the Sewerage & Water Board.

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