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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