A federal grand jury has accused state Senator Derrick Shepherd of plotting to launder nearly $2 million for a convicted felon.

U.S. Attorney Jim Letten says the Republican attorney from New Orleans is charged with three counts of mail fraud and two conspiracy charges - one to commit mail and wire fraud, and the other to launder money. If convicted on all counts, he faces up to 85 years in jail.

Shepherd is accused of helping an unlicensed bond broker named Gwendolyn Joseph Moyo launder fake construction bond fees. Moyo was indicted in October on charges she illegally sold insurance in spite of federal convictions dating back to 1989 that barred her from the insurance business.
Shepherd has denied wrongdoing. He says he was targeted because he couldn't help the FBI build corruption cases against other public officials. He didn't show up Thursday morning for a Senate session or to chair his Senate committee.

The allegations surfaced last year, only days after voters elected him to a second term. Shepherd ran for Congress in 2006 but finished third in a primary challenge to U.S. Rep. William Jefferson.

Source: WAFB