Witness: Vendor Funded Ex-New Orleans Mayor Trips

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A fourth witness in former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin's corruption trial has accused Nagin of seeking and receiving a payoff.

Frank Fradella took the stand Friday afternoon and, under questioning from a federal prosecutor, said Nagin backed him in efforts to obtain city help on a variety of projects. Fradella, testifying under a plea agreement, said he arranged for Nagin to get a $50,000 bribe after Nagin said he needed money to support a foundering family business.

Fradella pleaded guilty in June 2012 to conspiracy to commit bribery.

Nagin, who served two terms as mayor, ending in 2010, is being tried on a 21-count indictment that accuses him of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes — including money, trips and free granite for his family business.