Changes

While imprisoned, Gerald befriended Everett Bleichner, an [[insurance]] adjuster convicted of extortion. Upon Bleichner release on February 9, 1981, Gerald put him on the Senate payroll as an aide with undisclosed duties at a salary of more than $900 per month.<ref name=time/> Though Gerald's sentence was for five years,<ref name=beckner>{{cite web|url=http://www.donaldbeckner.com/CM/NewspaperArticles/NewspaperArticles10.asp|title=Beckner's record|publisher=donaldbeckner.com|accessdate=November 18, 2009}}</ref> he served only half that time, having been  released on July 30, 1982.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/InmateFinderServlet?Transaction=NameSearch&needingMoreList=false&FirstName=Gaston&Middle=&LastName=Gerald&Race=W&Sex=M&Age=78&x=13&y=15|title=Inmate Locator|publisher=Federal Bureau of Prisons|accessdate=November 12, 2019}}</ref>  

While imprisoned, Gerald befriended Everett Bleichner, an [[insurance]] adjuster convicted of extortion. Upon Bleichner release on February 9, 1981, Gerald put him on the Senate payroll as an aide with undisclosed duties at a salary of more than $900 per month.<ref name=time/> Though Gerald's sentence was for five years,<ref name=beckner>{{cite web|url=http://www.donaldbeckner.com/CM/NewspaperArticles/NewspaperArticles10.asp|title=Beckner's record|publisher=donaldbeckner.com|accessdate=November 18, 2009}}</ref> he served only half that time, having been  released on July 30, 1982.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/InmateFinderServlet?Transaction=NameSearch&needingMoreList=false&FirstName=Gaston&Middle=&LastName=Gerald&Race=W&Sex=M&Age=78&x=13&y=15|title=Inmate Locator|publisher=Federal Bureau of Prisons|accessdate=November 12, 2019}}</ref>  

Gerald did not resign from the Senate when he entered prison but continued to draw his salary and expenses. In 1981, the Senate in a rare moment voted 33-3 to expel Gerald as a member, with Anthony Guarisco, Jr.,  of Morgan City in St. Mary Parish leading the majority forces.<ref name=time/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.linkedin.com/pub/tony-guarisco/21/738/925|title=Tony Guarisco|publisher=linkedin.com|accessdate=June 24, 2013}}</ref>

Gerald did not resign from the Senate when he entered prison but continued to draw his salary and expenses. In 1981, the Senate in a rare moment voted 33–3 to expel Gerald as a member, with Anthony Guarisco Jr.,  of Morgan City in St. Mary Parish leading the majority forces.<ref name=time/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.linkedin.com/pub/tony-guarisco/21/738/925|title=Tony Guarisco|publisher=linkedin.com|accessdate=June 24, 2013}}</ref>

Meanwhile, Henry Holden, business manager for the Pipefitters Local 198 [[organized labor|union]], was convicted of [[obstruction of justice]] in attempting to influence the federal [[grand jury]] during the investigation of the Gerald case. Holden was sentenced to two years imprisonment.<ref name=beckner/>

Meanwhile, Henry Holden, business manager for the Pipefitters Local 198 [[organized labor|union]], was convicted of [[obstruction of justice]] in attempting to influence the federal [[grand jury]] during the investigation of the Gerald case. Holden was sentenced to two years imprisonment.<ref name=beckner/>

In a series of press articles beginning in 1993 it was revealed that politicians in both parties in Louisiana had been tapping either their own family members or relatives of political allies for coveted legislative scholarships to [[Tulane University]] in [[New Orleans]], enabled by an 1881 state law. In 1995, it was disclosed that while in the Senate, Gaston Gerald had sponsored a scholarship for Pascal Calogero, III, of New Orleans, one of three sons of Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero, Jr.<ref>"Legislative Scholarship Recipients," ''The New Orleans Times-Picayune,'' October 23, 1995, p. A-13.</ref>

In a series of press articles beginning in 1993 it was revealed that politicians in both parties in Louisiana had been tapping either their own family members or relatives of political allies for coveted legislative scholarships to [[Tulane University]] in [[New Orleans]], enabled by an 1881 state law. In 1995, it was disclosed that while in the Senate, Gaston Gerald had sponsored a scholarship for Pascal Calogero, III, of New Orleans, one of three sons of Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Pascal F. Calogero Jr.<ref>"Legislative Scholarship Recipients," ''The New Orleans Times-Picayune,'' October 23, 1995, p. A-13.</ref>

After expulsion from the Senate, a [[special election]] was held to name a successor for the unexpired part of Gerald's third term. Fellow Democrat [[Mike Cross (Louisiana politician)|Mike Cross]], then the mayor of Baker in East Baton Rouge Parish, was elected. to Gerald. Cross held the seat from 1981 to 1996, when he was unseated by the young [[Republican Party|Republican]] Mike Branch, who served only one term.<ref name=senate/>

After expulsion from the Senate, a [[special election]] was held to name a successor for the unexpired part of Gerald's third term. Fellow Democrat [[Mike Cross (Louisiana politician)|Mike Cross]], then the mayor of Baker in East Baton Rouge Parish, was elected. to Gerald. Cross held the seat from 1981 to 1996, when he was unseated by the young [[Republican Party|Republican]] Mike Branch, who served only one term.<ref name=senate/>