NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A businessman pleaded guilty Wednesday to plotting to bribe an unidentified former New Orleans public official in a case that appears to be linked to a federal probe of former Mayor Ray Nagin.

Rodney Williams, who was president of Three Fold Consultants LLC, made $72,250 in payoffs to the unidentified official for his help in securing city contracts for architectural, engineering and services work, according to a court filing accompanying his guilty plea.