Councilman pleads innocent to extortion charges
by C.J. Lin (excerpt)

Gretna City Councilman Jonathan Bolar pleaded innocent Friday to a 16-count federal indictment alleging extortion, tax evasion and improper bank deposits.

After appearing before U.S. Magistrate Louis Moore Jr., Bolar was released on a $50,000 personal surety bond. A trial is set for July 20 in U.S. District Court in New Orleans. Bolar and his attorney, Clarence Roby, did not return calls for comment.

Bolar, 47, was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 8 on charges of taking nearly $100,000 from three people in his council district in exchange for his support on property zoning variances. He also is accused of demanding payment from a fourth person.

Bolar also was charged with four counts of failing to file income tax returns from 2003 to 2006 and eight counts of structuring financial transactions to avoid bank reporting requirements. The indictment alleges that Bolar made 20 deposits ranging from $1,200 to $10,000 to six bank accounts between January 2006 and August 2007 in an attempt to prevent the banks from reporting the transactions to the federal government as required by law. If convicted of all charges, Bolar could face more than 120 years in jail and more than $1 million in fines.