CANTON, Miss.–Deciding not to take his lumps today could mean much bigger problems for former Canton alderman Louis Smith, who appeared at the federal courthouse in Jackson. He could have gotten up to ten years, but told the judge that he wanted a new trial instead.
Smith was convicted earlier this year of taking stacks of hundreds from men at Canton’s Saab Park. It was caught on tape, but Smith claimed the money was loans.
What came out in court Thursday, thanks to a financial report on Smith, was that he had motive for taking the bribes.
Affiliate reporter Jerry Lousteau, from Canton station WMGO was in court and said the report detailed that Smith had not filed a tax return in four years. His house was also reported in foreclosure.
The judge said if Smith got a new trial all of that would come out and he would also be at risk for tax evasion prosecution.
