Port Allen Police Chief Convicted Of Corruption Charges

Port Allen Police Chief Fred Smith has been convicted of racketeering and fraud charges stemming from allegations he solicited bribes from an undercover FBI operative.

Smith has been ordered to resign following his convictions by a federal jury in Baton Rouge.

Smith was one of several Louisiana officials charged in an FBI sting operation. Former Port Allen Mayor Derek Lewis and former City Councilman Johnny L. Johnson Sr. had pleaded guilty to related charges.

Former St. Gabriel Mayor George Grace is scheduled for trial in January on charges stemming from the FBI probe.

Prosecutors say Smith sold two Port Allen police badges to an undercover operative posing as a corrupt businessman and seeking contracts for a fictional garbage-can cleaning business.