Published: Tuesday, January 25, 2011, 2:21 PM    

Updated: Tuesday, January 25, 2011, 2:22 PM

http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2011/01/derrick_shepherd_seeks_new_tri.html

Former state Sen. Derrick Shepherd, who is serving a three-year prison sentence for conspiracy to commit money laundering, wants his conviction tossed out on grounds that one of his attorneys falsified records that were presented to a grand jury.

Shepherd also accuses that attorney, Clarence Roby, of failing to inform him of a plea offer made by a federal prosecutor. The former Marrero legislator includes the allegations in a petition he filed last week in U.S. District Court in New Orleans.

He pleaded guilty in October 2008 to helping convicted bond broker Gwendolyn Moyo launder $14,000 from the sale of bogus bonds. He is serving his sentence at a federal prison in Beaumont, Texas.

Roby could not be reached immediately for comment. Shepherd claims that after the FBI interviewed him, he spoke with Roby's wife, U.S. Magistrate Judge Karen Roby, who referred him to her husband.

Shepherd claims Clarence Roby told him "the government was on a 'witch hunt' for getting rid of 'black elected officials,' and he wanted to beat them," according to the 43-page petition.

Shepherd alleges Roby instructed him on how to fill out time sheets reflecting work done for Moyo, and to backdate documents "to fool the grand jury."

He also claims his other attorneys, John Reed and Robert Glass, provided inadequate representation. Those attorneys could not be reached immediately for comment.