LOUISIANA : Arraignment Held for Espy’s Brother

Henry Espy, brother of former Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy, was arraigned in federal court in New Orleans on charges of bank fraud and money laundering, then released on $100,000 bail. Arraigned along with Espy was Alvarez Ferrouillet, a New Orleans attorney who served as Espy’s campaign manager in an unsuccessful 1993 Mississippi congressional race. He also was released on bail of $100,000. Espy is charged with conspiracy and making false statements to cover up the source of illegal campaign contributions. Ferrouillet is accused of trying to launder a $20,000 illegal contribution to Espy from Crop Growers Corp., the second-largest crop insurer in the nation. Crop Growers was indicted in May for making illegal contributions to Henry Espy in order to gain access to then Secretary of Agriculture Mike Espy. The company has pleaded not guilty.