Former St. Gabriel Mayor Pleads Not Guilty To Extortion Charges

Former St. Gabriel Mayor George Grace has pleaded not guilty in federal court to two new charges in the undercover FBI sting known as Operation Blighted Officials.

Grace, who was St. Gabriel's mayor for 17 years until he lost his re-election bid in April, was first charged in September 2010 with 11 counts of racketeering, bribery, extortion and fraud in the FBI sting.

Grace, who previously pleaded innocent to the first 11 counts, pleaded innocent to the two new counts -- extortion and using a telephone in aid of racketeering -- Tuesday in front of U.S Magistrate Judge Christine Noland. Grace is scheduled for trial in January.