Judge won't delay N.O. corruption trial

NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 14 (UPI) -- A New Orleans bond broker on trial on money laundering charges says she can't get a fair trial because her co-defendant, a state legislator, has pleaded guilty.

The U.S. District Court trial of Gwendolyn Moyo, 53, accusing of conspiring with former Louisiana state Sen. Derrick Shepherd, D-Marrero, of selling bogus construction bonds, began Monday in New Orleans with U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier denying her motion for a delay, The Times-Picayune newspaper in New Orleans reported.

Moyo, who is representing herself, claimed Shepherd's move to plead guilty garnered significant negative publicity and she feared she would become a victim of "guilt by association." But Barbier denied her motion, agreeing with prosecutors that such prejudices could be weeded out during the jury selection process, the newspaper said.

Shepherd resigned Friday from the Louisiana State Senate after admitting helping Moyo launder $141,000 in illegal proceeds. U.S. Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., and his sister, 4th District New Orleans Assessor Betty Jefferson, are named as unindicted co-conspirators in the case, The Times-Picayune reported.