Federal prosecutors intend to show Mayor Frank Melton routinely abused his position, even allegedly offering police officers promotions as bribes not to testify against him, according to a motion filed in federal court.
The motion was filed as notice that prosecutors intend to introduce evidence of alleged crimes committed by the mayor and former bodyguard Michael Recio apart from the charges associated with their participation in an Aug. 26, 2006, raid on a Ridgeway Street duplex.
Melton and Recio are scheduled to stand trial Nov. 12. Judge Dan Jordan has issued a gag order limiting what the parties in the trial can say “with exceptions for matters of public record and the mere assertion of innocence.”
“Let me just generally say this, I’m not going to violate what the judge has ordered in terms of the gag order, but that information is totally, totally incorrect,” Melton said.
Magnolia Tribune
