Ex-New Orleans Airport Director, Wife Back Out of Plea Deal

The former director of aviation at New Orleans’ Louis Armstrong International Airport and his wife have backed out of a plea agreement to resolve charges they tried to profit from a bogus insurance claim after Hurricane Katrina.

Sean Hunter and his wife, Shauna, were expected to enter guilty pleas Sept. 14, but the Times-Picayune reported that the hearing has been called off because federal prosecutors say the Hunters aren’t abiding by the terms of their plea deals. A spokeswoman for U.S. Attorney Jim Letten wouldn’t elaborate.

The Hunters were charged last month with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and making false statements to the FBI.

Prosecutors say Shauna Hunter falsely claimed her new BMW had been destroyed in the August 2005 storm.

Sean Hunter resigned in September.

Information from: The Times-Picayune