Mary Wright Cook, the daughter of Bayou La Batre Mayor Stan Wright, will plead not guilty to federal allegations involving a FEMA land deal following Hurricane Katrina, according to her attorney.
Cook and her father were indicted Friday on charges of conspiring to defraud the United States, theft from a program receiving federal funds and money laundering. Stan Wright is also charged with retaliating against a witness.
Mayor Stan Wright is also expected to plead not guilty.
The mayor and his daughter are accused of transferring land and money to each other to conceal profit the mayor made from the sale of the property to the city of Bayou La Batre. The purchase was part of a federal grant to build houses for Hurricane Katrina victims.
Mayor Stan Wright refused to comment to WKRG on the charges on Saturday. His attorney, Arthur Madden, has not returned our calls.
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