Bayou La Batre laundering trial resumes, Cook's charges thrown out

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - The charges against Bayou La Batre Mayor Stan Wright's daughter, Mary Cook, were thrown out by a U.S. District Court Judge Tuesday.

Cook spent more than a week inside a federal courtroom while federal prosecutors tried to build a case against her.

Prosecutors maintain she conspired along with her father, Bayou La Batre Mayor Stan Wright, and City Grant Administrator Janey Galbraith to defraud the federal government out of money meant for Hurricane Katrina victims. 

But, after prosecutors presented their case, U.S. District Court Judge Kristi Dubose ruled it wasn't enough and threw out the charges against Cook.

 "Not enough evidence to send the case to the jury. She hasn't done anything wrong. We've said it all along, and justice was done today," said Rich Alexander, Cook's attorney.

 Alexander said Cook got teary eyed and thanked him.

"She is back at school now for the last couple of days. She has been emotionally distraught, so she was able to go back to her class. She has been teaching this whole year until the case started," Alexander said.

 As for Janey Galbraith, her charges still stand and her attorneys laid out her case Tuesday.

Defense called Al Jones, with the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs to the stand.

 Jones testified he did not see any evidence of files being doctored as the prosecution suggested.

 "Janey made it clear that any and every file was open to anyone who wanted to see them," tested Jones.

 Jones oversaw the grant for the state of Alabama that Galbraith administered.

Jones also said that Bayou La Batre was said to be "best practices" by a HUD monitoring review.

 "Means the best of the best," said Jones.

Prosecutors argued Galbraith altered files to allow people who shouldn't qualify for federal housing assistance to qualify.

 Galbraith's defense said she was correcting mistakes.

 "Everybody makes corrections. Everybody with a computer deletes things. Janey Galbraith corrected things using white out," said Kilborn.

 Kilborn was pleased with the judge's decision to thrown out the case against Galbraith's co-defendant Mary Cook.

“Show's they got nothing on Mary Wright. If they can be wrong about Mary Wright, they can be wrong about Janey Galbraith," said Kilborn.

Alexander had no comment on Cook's father Mayor Stan Wright's case.

A date has not been set for Mayor Wright.