Bayou La Batre mayor, daughter indicted

BAYOU LA BATRE, Ala. (WALA) - FOX10 has new information on the investigation into Bayou La Batre Mayor Stan Wright. The United States Attorney General's office says Bayou La Batre Mayor Stan Wright will either turn himself in to face a seven count indictment or be arrested.

The seven count federal indictment charges Bayou La Batre Mayor Stan Wright did knowingly and willfully take part in a conspiracy to defraud the U.S. Government, stole federal funds, laundered money, and then retaliated against a person who provided law enforcement with such information.

It all centers around a tract of land in Bayou La Batre's Safe Harbour Estates.

Mayor Wright cut the ribbon on the community back in 2008. It was built for Hurricane Katrina victims who lost their homes.

The indictment accuses the mayor of being involved in a scheme to get money from the federally funded subdivision by selling a piece of his personal property to the city. The indictment also said the alleged cover up involved the mayor's daughter.

The indictment said Wright gave his daughter a piece of property, then signed off for the City of Bayou La Batre to buy it from her. Then she in turn wrote Mayor Wright four checks totaling $27,300.

If true, it is conduct unbecoming of a public servant - a public servant who said earlier this year he holds public servants to a high standard.

Mayor Wright said this after he got wind of a problem at the Bayou La Batre Police station with missing drug money. The Mayor would never say how much money.

"It is more than pocket change. I don't care if it is one penny. I want every penny accounted for, and I am not going to tolerate this," said Mayor Wright in May of 2011.

The mayor is accused of stealing more than pocket change. The attorney general's office said it was more than $27,000.

FOX10's calls to Mayor Wright's attorney Arthur Madden were not returned.

FOX10 also called the City of Bayou La Batre attorney Jay Ross for a status update on who is in charge, but our call was not returned.