WBRZ - Baton Rouge

BATON ROUGE - More than eight hours of work toward finding a jury in the corruption trial of former St. Gabriel Mayor George Grace, and still no jury. It could be several more days before 12 people are selected who will decide Grace's guilt or innocence.

Grace faces eleven charges of fraud, bribery, racketeering, extortion, obstruction of justice and false statements in connection with Operation Blighted Officials, the FBI's undercover sting that ended up with convictions so far against five of seven public officials.

The indictment details time after time the feds say Grace solicited and took thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for using his role as mayor to promote Cifer 5000, a fake garbage can cleaning company.

Grace was upbeat as he walked into court Monday morning. He kept that smile on his face throughout the first day of jury selection.

Out of 79 potential jurors, at least ten told the judge they knew one of six witnesses expected to testify in Grace's trial. All six were indicted in the same sting. Five are already convicted: Tommy Nelson, former New Roads Mayor; Fred Smith, former Port Allen Police Chief; Derek Lewis, former Port Allen Mayor; Johnny Johnson, former Port Allen City Councilman; and Maurice Brown, former White Castle Mayor. Only Mario Brown will walk into court as a free man to take the stand. He is the former White Castle police chief was found not guilty in March of fraud and racketeering.

The judge reprimanded Grace himself for talking to one potential juror. That juror told the judge he knew Grace's son and recognized Grace, but thought he was a law clerk and had no idea Grace was on trial.

Prosecutors seemed perplexed at Judge Maurice Hicks' decision not to allow attorneys to talk with their witnesses after cross-examination, something that is customarily allowed. Hicks, who is filling in for the late Judge Ralph Tyson, told prosecutor Corey Amundson no attorney will be allowed to talk with their witnesses after cross-examination has begun. They will have to ask for special permission to do so.

The trial is expected to take at least three weeks.