on august 13, 2007, thomas resigned his council seat and pleaded guilty to a federal bribery charge. in late 2001 and early 2002, thomas took $15,000 in kickbacks from stan "pampy" barre, a local businessman and associate of then-mayor marc morial. barre owned a company which operated a number of french quarter parking lots under contract with the city, and paid thomas in order to ensure that the morial-era contracts would be renewed under the incoming administration. thomas agreed to barre's terms, but also demanded and received one-third of the parking profits in kickbacks through one of his associates. on november 21, 2007, thomas was sentenced to 37 months in federal prison for bribery.