Suspended Broward County Commissioner Josephus Eggelletion pleaded not guilty to one count of money-laundering conspiracy Wednesday.

Eggelletion appeared in federal court in Fort Lauderdale to enter the not guilty plea to a 15-page ``information'' filed Tuesday.

This type of charging document often indicates that a plea deal will follow. The fact that Eggelletion now faces a single count -- though federal authorities described multiple occasions in which he allegedly laundered money -- is another hint that a plea deal is in the works.

Yet the longtime politician and his attorney, Johnny McCray, denied that such negotiations with federal prosecutors are under way.

The felony charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

``It's tough,'' McCray said after the hearing. ``He is doing the best he can. He is cautiously optimistic things will work out in his favor.''

Eggelletion declined comment Wednesday.

McCray has brought two additional high-profile attorneys to assist: former U.S. Attorney Kendall Coffey and Ben Kuehne, a Miami attorney.

On Wednesday, the Justice Department dropped a separate, unrelated money-laundering case against Kuehne.

In Eggelletion's case, an undercover agent made an introduction to the politician by making a $5,000 donation to his golf foundation in 2006. That led them to team up on what Eggelletion believed were business deals in the Bahamas.

Eggelletion tried to enrich himself by laundering money through bank accounts in the Bahamas and by evading federal taxes on about $18,200 in cash payments, according to the information.

He is accused of conspiring with two Broward businessmen, Ron Owens and Joel Williams, and Bahamian attorney Sidney Cambridge.

Owens was also charged by information Wednesday and entered a not guilty plea.

Williams and Cambridge were indicted on multiple money laundering counts earlier this month.

Williams entered a not guilty plea while Cambridge has not entered a plea.

Gov. Charlie Crist suspended Eggelletion, 60, from office after his September arrest.

On Monday, Crist appointed Dania Beach Commissioner Al Jones to replace Eggelletion to represent the district that stretches from Fort Lauderdale to Pompano Beach.

Miami Herald staff writer Jay Weaver contributed to this report.