NEW ORLEANS-AREA JUDGE INDICTED IN DRUG CASE

U.S. Corruption Probe Widens

A district judge in suburban New Orleans was indicted Wednesday on federal
drug charges, accused with an accomplice of planting the prescription
narcotic OxyContin in the vehicle of an FBI informant.

The indictment of Ronald Bodenheimer, 49, is part of a wide-ranging federal
investigation into judicial corruption that has rocked the New Orleans area.

It was also learned Wednesday that the FBI had placed wiretaps and video
cameras inside the chambers of Alan Green, another district judge in the
same Jefferson Parish courthouse.

Green has not been accused of wrongdoing and has declined comment.

Bodenheimer faces more than 20 years in prison and more than $1 million in
fines if convicted. He recently turned down a plea agreement of 30 months
in prison in exchange for his cooperation. Bodenheimer's attorney, Davidson
Ehle, has said his client is innocent and will fight the charges in court.

Bodenheimer had been under investigation for almost three years when he was
arrested June 5 on drug charges. The FBI had intercepted phone calls by
Bodenheimer in which it says the judge talked about retaliation against a
man who'd complained to federal authorities about illegal activities at the
judge's marina on a remote New Orleans bayou.

The wider federal investigation appears to be targeting the judiciary's
relationship with the bail bonding industry. FBI surveillance included taps
on phones belonging to bail bond companies owned by Louis Marcotte III and
his family, who've claimed to have a virtual monopoly on the local bail
bonding business. Federal agents raided Marcotte's office in June.

U.S. Attorney Jim Letten said in a statement on Wednesday, "The
investigation which led to today's indictment is just one part of a larger
ongoing investigation being conducted in this district."

A statewide political newsletter has reported that courthouse insiders
believe as many as four other judges could be involved, and some observers
believe the investigation could reach beyond the Jefferson Parish courthouse.

"Before all is said and done, it may involve other jurisdictions and other
courts," said Rafael Goyeneche, president of the Metropolitan Crime
Commission, an independent watchdog group.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.
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