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Ex-Lafayette/Opelousas housing director sentenced

LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) — The former public housing director in Lafayette and Opelousas has been sentenced to two years and four months in federal prison for rigging bids and wire fraud.
U.S. District Judge Elizabeth Foote sentenced 51-year-old Walter Guillory on Wednesday to two concurrent 28-month terms, meaning he will serve the sentences at the same time.
The Advocate reports (http://bit.ly/1n6vpdV ) Foote said federal sentencing guidelines suggested a range of 57 to 71 months for Guillory, but noted that prosecutor Kelly Uebinger requested a reduced sentence because of Guillory's help in an ongoing probe into public housing.
Neither Foote nor Uebinger mentioned the names of others who might be accused in the investigation.
"The government (prosecutors) has stressed the courage of your actions ...," Foote said.
Guillory was executive director of the Lafayette Housing Authority from 1998 until he resigned in 2010, when a state audit noted problems with expenses and record keeping. From 2005 to 2009, Guillory also served as head of the Opelousas Housing Authority.
He pleaded guilty to federal bribery and wire fraud charges in February. Federal prosecutors said he was part of a scheme at the Opelousas authority that funneled contracts to favored contractors.

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