Ex-Louisiana Wildlife Commissioner Indicted

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — U.S. Attorney Jim Letten's Office in New Orleans says a former Louisiana wildlife commissioner is facing federal charges of conspiracy, receiving illegal payoffs and lying to federal agents.

Sixty-four-year-old Henry Mouton of Lafayette was indicted Friday, according to a news release. Prosecutors accuse Mouton of accepting more than $463,000 in illegal payoffs from co-conspirators to keep a landfill in New Orleans closed. The people who are alleged to have made the payoffs are not identified.

Prosecutors accuse Mouton of contacting members of Congress and federal agencies in an attempt to keep the Old Gentilly landfill closed.

Reached by telephone, Mouton had no immediate comment but said he would respond later.