Official who is accused in bribe scheme also ran Jefferson family political arm
by Gordon Russell - Times-Picayune (excerpt)

The man who served as the longtime head of former U.S. Rep. William Jefferson's political organization is facing a federal racketeering charge for allegedly abusing his position as deputy commissioner for minority affairs in the state Department of Insurance -- a position the congressman helped create. Richard Chambers Sr., 67, of LaPlace, was charged in a bill of information Monday by prosecutors in Baton Rouge. He is accused of accepting $5,500 in cash and a pledge of 40 percent of a Kenner insurance agent's commissions for steering municipal insurance business to the agent. The bill of information states Chambers was unaware that the "insurance agent" was in fact an undercover FBI agent. Assistant U.S. Attorney Corey Amundson has filed notice that prosecutors and Chambers intend to file a plea agreement.