The former technology chief for the City of New Orleans pleaded guilty Monday in a fraud scheme that prosecutors said brought him more than $860,000 in bribes and kickbacks, paid by a businessman to whom he allegedly steered $4 million in city contracts.

Greg Meffert, at a hearing before U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of filing a false tax return — two of the 63 counts in the indictment. Charges against his wife, Linda, also indicted in the case, will be dropped pending her participation in a pretrial diversion program.

Meffert faces up to eight years in prison.

The Mefferts were charged just over a year ago. The government alleged that Meffert took bribes and kickbacks from his former business partner, St. Pierre, to give St. Pierre's technology companies no-bid contracts at City Hall.