Plaquemines Parish Sheriff received meals, trips & entertainment from contractor
by David Hammer - Times-Picayune (excerpt)

Longtime Plaquemines Parish Sheriff Jiff Hingle received thousands of dollars in meals, trips and entertainment in 2008 from a contractor he hired to manage the rebuilding of the parish's temporary and permanent prisons, according to financial records and witness interviews. The contractor is Aaron Bennett, who played a key role in the New Orleans technology-office bribery scheme. His construction and project management company, Benetech LLC, made millions off taxpayer-financed work during Mayor Ray Nagin's administration, in the technology office and at the French Market. Hingle, a five-term sheriff seeking re-election, gave a two-year contract to Benetech in October 2007, worth an estimated $7.7 million, to manage FEMA-financed hurricane recovery projects -- principally the temporary and permanent correctional facilities. While working on that contract, Bennett hung out frequently with the sheriff and often paid his tab, said two of Bennett's former love interests. Hingle didn't respond to requests for comment.