William Jefferson gets 13 years in prison

**Arrogance** · 11-13-2009, 05:27 PM

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1109/29506.html

Former Democratic Rep. William Jefferson (La.), infamous for having $90,000 in bribe money hidden in his freezer, was sentenced to 13 years in prison today after being convicted on a slew of federal corruption charges.

Jefferson’s sentence was the harshest ever handed out to a former lawmaker, but Justice Department officials said Jefferson warranted such a severe sanction due to the unprecedented scale of his corruption. Jefferson appeared in court Friday afternoon in a black suit and a red tie, with his five daughters, his wife and his brother.

Jefferson did not speak at his sentencing, and his attorney Robert Trout says he will appeal the conviction.

Jefferson, 62, will be the fifth former member of Congress since 2000 to end up behind bars, joining ex-Reps. Duke Cunningham (R-Calif.), Jim Traficant (Ohio), Bob Ney (R-Ohio) and Frank Ballance (D-N.C.) on the list of imprisoned lawmakers.

A sixth former member, ex-Rep. Rick Renzi (R-Ariz.), was indicted last year on federal fraud and money laundering charges, but his case has yet to go to trail due to constitutional challenges raised by Renzi’s attorneys.

After a long legal battle, and a first-of-its-kind raid on a congressional office by FBI agents, Jefferson was convicted in August on 11 federal corruption charges, including bribery, honest services fraud, money laundering and racketeering.

He was also the first sitting lawmaker charged with trying to bribe a foreign official, in this case, the former Nigerian vice president. The $90,000 in bribe money - given to Jefferson by an FBI informant - was later found in his freezer during a 2005 FBI raid on his Virginia home. The incident became a punch line for late-night comedians and a symbol of the congressional corruption.

Prosecutors said the Louisiana Democrat, who served in the House for 18 years before losing his 2008 reelection battle, “conspired with numerous business people over many years and through various schemes to perform official acts in exchange for cash, stock, and other equity interests through which the defendant and his family stood to gain more than a half a billion dollars.”

All told Jefferson received $478,000 in bribe money, including $367,500 from Kentucky businessman Vernon Jackson.

But FBI agents and DOJ officials said they are unable to rule out the possibility that Jefferson has more funds secretly stashed away in overseas bank accounts, according to court documents filed this week.

**Gerry** · 11-13-2009, 05:48 PM

Originally Posted by Arrogance

All told Jefferson received $478,000 in bribe money, including $367,500 from Kentucky businessman Vernon Jackson.

But FBI agents and DOJ officials said they are unable to rule out the possibility that Jefferson has more funds secretly stashed away in overseas bank accounts, according to court documents filed this week.

Jeez, maybe he wasn't so dump after all?