By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

NEW ORLEANS – A Destrehan contractor allegedly involved in a bribery scheme with former St. John Parish President Bill Hubbard has officially been charged with conspiracy to solicit and give bribes involving a public official, according to a release from U.S. Attorney Jim Letten’s office.

Ray A. Davezac, 55, who owned and operated Davezac Consulting Engineers LLC when the alleged bribery scheme took place, was named as a conspirator in a one-count bill of information released Friday.

According to the release, the bill of information alleges Hubbard solicited a $5,000 bribe from Davezac prior to awarding a parish contract to Davezac’s engineering firm. The bribe was made payable to a local automobile dealership where Hubbard purchased a vehicle for the benefit of a former girlfriend. Court documents show Davezac received the contract at a date after the bribe was solicited and paid.

If convicted, Davezac faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Hubbard resigned as parish president a day before pleading guilty to federal bribery charges in September.

He is awaiting sentencing, which is scheduled for Feb. 15.