Former St. Tammany Parish DA Walter Reed found guilty on 18 counts of corruption charges

NEW ORLEANS -- Former St. Tammany District Attorney Walter Reed was found guilty on 18 corruption-related counts.

Reed was only found not guilty on one count of money laundering. The verdict comes after little more than four hours of deliberations.

"As the jury found, the defendants' actions were not innocent 'mistakes,' as Walter Reed claimed during his testimony. They were crimes," U.S. Attorney Kenneth Polite tweeted following the verdict.

"As a community, we are tired of hearing, and accepting, excuses from public officials who violate the public trust to enrich themselves."

For the past two weeks, Reed has been in a federal courtroom, facing multiple counts of criminal accusations, along with his oldest son Stephen Reed.

The government lodged against the pair allegations of mail and wire fraud, conspiracy, money laundering and making false statements on tax documents.

Evidence presented included campaign fund purchases of large group dinners, gift cards and flowers, as well as checks to a church and his son for campaign events and public service announcements.

The government argued it was a case of greed, entitlement and excuses that led to Reed using his campaign fund as a personal ATM for $150 thousand, then defrauded his own office by keeping money from a St. Tammany Hospital deal for legal representation.

U.S. Attorney Kenneth Polite tweeted his reaction to the verdict.

"As the jury found, the defendants' actions were not innocent "mistakes," as Walter Reed claimed during his testimony," Polite said. "They were crimes."

Both Walter and Stephen remain free on bond until Sept. 15, when sentencing will take place.

The counts are as follows:

Count 1 – Conspiracy, GUILTY
Count 2 – Wire fraud, Gerald’s Steak House, GUILTY
Count 3 – Wire fraud, Annadele’s Plantation, GUILTY
Count 4- Wire fraud, Dakota Restaurant, GUILTY
Count 5- Wire fraud, Flowers N. Fancies, GUILTY
Count 6- Wire fraud, First Pentecostal Church, GUILTY
Count 7 – Wire fraud, Liquid Bread, GUILTY
Count 8 – Faith Tabernacle Church, GUILTY
Count 9 – Money laundering through The Lake House, GUILTY
Count 10 – Money laundering through White Oak Productions, NOT GUILTY
Count 11 – False statement on income tax returns, GUILTY
Count 12 – False statement on income tax returns, GUILTY
Count 13 – False statement on income tax returns, GUILTY
Count 14 – False statement on income tax returns, GUILTY
Count 15 – Mail fraud, St. Tammany Parish Hospital, GUILTY
Count 16 – Mail fraud, St. Tammany Parish Hospital, GUILTY
Count 17- Mail fraud, St. Tammany Parish Hospital, GUILTY
Count 18 - Mail fraud, St. Tammany Parish Hospital, GUILTY
Count 19 - Mail fraud, St. Tammany Parish Hospital, GUILTY

© 2017 WWL-TV

WWL

Jury begins deliberations in the trial of former St. Tammany Parish DA Walter Reed

WWL

Leaders of St. Tammany Parish Hospital testify in former DA Walter Reed trial

WWL

Opening statements close out first day of Walter Reed trial