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NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A former Louisiana state senator who served a 37-month sentence for money laundering is asking to be forgiven — and re-elected.
Fox 8 WVUE-TV (http://bit.ly/1EZu1HK ) reports that Derrick Shepherd qualified Thursday for state representative, House District 87, a seat he previously held in 2003.
In a news release, Shepherd asked the voters for forgiveness and argued that his campaign will offer "hope to many citizens who have made a mistake that they too can receive a second chance in life."
Although aware of a state constitutional amendment prohibiting convicted felons from running for office, the news release said several attorneys believe its enactment was unconstitutional.
Shepherd served in the state senate from 2005-2008, when he pleaded in federal court to conspiring with an unlicensed bond broker to launder $141,000 in proceeds from the sale of bogus bonds.
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Information from: WVUE-TV, http://fox8live.com
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