A former Louisiana congressman hid a famously $ 90,000 in cash in a freezer was sentenced Fri 13 years in prison for taking bribes, the longest term ever imposed on a congressman on bribery charges.
Convicted William Jefferson, a Democrat who represented parts of New Orleans nearly 20 years, in August to take about $ 500,000 in bribes and sought millions more in exchange for using their influence to broker deal of business in Africa.
The sentence, and serious, yet was much less than what was sought.Agents prosecutors investigating the case found $ 90,000 in foil folded and hidden in boxes of frozen feet in ice crusts.
Prosecutors asked a court to follow federal guidelines and sentenced him to at least 27 years, but the judge Friday that the sentencing guidelines provisions calculated on 22 years instead of 27. The defense requested less than 10 years, calling for more severe punishment would be much longer than those applicable to Congressmen convicted of similar offenses in recent years, none of them were sentenced to more than ten years.
Former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R-Calif., Was sentenced example, more than eight years in prison after plead guilty in 2005 to 2.4 million U.S. dollars in bribes from defense contractors to adopt. Was sentenced former Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, to 2 1 / 2 years in prison for taking bribes from lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Former Rep. James traficants, D-Ohio, was a 7-year sentence after a trial in 2002 of bribery and extortion.
Prosecutor Mark Lytle that were coming out of Jefferson arrangements, I stood from the hundreds of millions of dollars in 11 separate bribery schemes.
"The action represented the most extensive and forleatach pattern of corruption in the history of Congress," Lytle said.Jefferson 's lawyer, Robert Trout, said his client has been approved, and the level of responsibility do, I believed that I was also active in the law. And he urged the court to consider Jefferson lifted themselves up from poverty on the first African-American to represent Louisiana in Congress from Re.
"He has led an extraordinary life," said Trout.
U. S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III that he was a Jefferson life history into account, but the public ought to deal with serious corruption.
The "Public corruption cancer on the body politic," said Ellis, who had complained that many congressmen convicted of other charges such. "Introduction of a virus that attacks the greed in power."
Jefferson that nothing in court after he was - Trout dhaoradh Jefferson said he advised not to talk because it is challenging a conviction in Jefferson appeals body.
If convicted, Jefferson showed no response to the verdict, nor a wife and five Daughters of the growth in attendance at the hearing.
Two of the giúróirí present at the hearing also convicted Jefferson, who fought back in Tears of the hearing which lasted three hours. Reduce its comment.
Jefferson was allowed to be free pending a hearing next week. Prosecutors want him to start his sentence immediately, but the defense Jefferson would be free and he appealed to convict.
Jefferson was also according to forfeit approximately $ 470,000 in bribe proceeds - the government expects the Jefferson retirement savings and other assets to be confiscated to enforce the ruling. Jefferson, in the meantime, the protection of bankruptcy and his wife are claiming rights to some of the assets.
Because he was sentenced to more than 10 years, he has a special exemption from the court approved his time in camp low-security prison to serve. Ellis agreed to recommend the waiver, but it is the Bureau of Prisons to decide when Jefferson served his time.
Jefferson convicted in August 11 counts, including bribery and extortion, and acquitted five others, including one of the closest connection with the money is frozen.
The investigation began in March 2005. In August of that year, FBI agents searched a home Washington and Jefferson received the money. Prosecutors said he intended to use the money to pay bribes to the then Vice-President of Nigeria to provide multi-one million dollar telecommunications deal Jefferson to reject accusation.
The money end up in frozen after unhappy businesswoman, Lori Mody, agreed to wear wire after telling the FBI she was cheated out of $ 3.5 million in deals brokered by Jefferson. The jury saw the videotape of Mody handing over a suitcase stuffed with $ 100,000 in cash outside of Arlington hotel. Were found most of the money in the freezer.
Defense argument that Jefferson was good with a private business consultant in brokering deals and bribery are not Deeds.
New Orleans voters were long faithful to Jefferson, Louisiana congressman in 1991 the first African American from Re. He rose from the poverty of the Delta Louisiana parishes known as street-savvy political tactician.
He was reelected in 2006 even after news of the bribery scandal beginning, but was indicted and subsequently lost to Republican lawyer Anh "Joseph" Cao last December.
Convicted William Jefferson, a Democrat who represented parts of New Orleans nearly 20 years, in August to take about $ 500,000 in bribes and sought millions more in exchange for using their influence to broker deal of business in Africa.
The sentence, and serious, yet was much less than what was sought.Agents prosecutors investigating the case found $ 90,000 in foil folded and hidden in boxes of frozen feet in ice crusts.Prosecutors asked a court to follow federal guidelines and sentenced him to at least 27 years, but the judge Friday that the sentencing guidelines provisions calculated on 22 years instead of 27. The defense requested less than 10 years, calling for more severe punishment would be much longer than those applicable to Congressmen convicted of similar offenses in recent years, none of them were sentenced to more than ten years.
Former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R-Calif., Was sentenced example, more than eight years in prison after plead guilty in 2005 to 2.4 million U.S. dollars in bribes from defense contractors to adopt. Was sentenced former Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, to 2 1 / 2 years in prison for taking bribes from lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Former Rep. James traficants, D-Ohio, was a 7-year sentence after a trial in 2002 of bribery and extortion.
Prosecutor Mark Lytle that were coming out of Jefferson arrangements, I stood from the hundreds of millions of dollars in 11 separate bribery schemes.
"The action represented the most extensive and forleatach pattern of corruption in the history of Congress," Lytle said.Jefferson 's lawyer, Robert Trout, said his client has been approved, and the level of responsibility do, I believed that I was also active in the law. And he urged the court to consider Jefferson lifted themselves up from poverty on the first African-American to represent Louisiana in Congress from Re.
"He has led an extraordinary life," said Trout.
U. S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III that he was a Jefferson life history into account, but the public ought to deal with serious corruption.
The "Public corruption cancer on the body politic," said Ellis, who had complained that many congressmen convicted of other charges such. "Introduction of a virus that attacks the greed in power."
Jefferson that nothing in court after he was - Trout dhaoradh Jefferson said he advised not to talk because it is challenging a conviction in Jefferson appeals body.
If convicted, Jefferson showed no response to the verdict, nor a wife and five Daughters of the growth in attendance at the hearing.
Two of the giúróirí present at the hearing also convicted Jefferson, who fought back in Tears of the hearing which lasted three hours. Reduce its comment.
Jefferson was allowed to be free pending a hearing next week. Prosecutors want him to start his sentence immediately, but the defense Jefferson would be free and he appealed to convict.
Jefferson was also according to forfeit approximately $ 470,000 in bribe proceeds - the government expects the Jefferson retirement savings and other assets to be confiscated to enforce the ruling. Jefferson, in the meantime, the protection of bankruptcy and his wife are claiming rights to some of the assets.
Because he was sentenced to more than 10 years, he has a special exemption from the court approved his time in camp low-security prison to serve. Ellis agreed to recommend the waiver, but it is the Bureau of Prisons to decide when Jefferson served his time.
Jefferson convicted in August 11 counts, including bribery and extortion, and acquitted five others, including one of the closest connection with the money is frozen.
The investigation began in March 2005. In August of that year, FBI agents searched a home Washington and Jefferson received the money. Prosecutors said he intended to use the money to pay bribes to the then Vice-President of Nigeria to provide multi-one million dollar telecommunications deal Jefferson to reject accusation.
The money end up in frozen after unhappy businesswoman, Lori Mody, agreed to wear wire after telling the FBI she was cheated out of $ 3.5 million in deals brokered by Jefferson. The jury saw the videotape of Mody handing over a suitcase stuffed with $ 100,000 in cash outside of Arlington hotel. Were found most of the money in the freezer.
Defense argument that Jefferson was good with a private business consultant in brokering deals and bribery are not Deeds.
New Orleans voters were long faithful to Jefferson, Louisiana congressman in 1991 the first African American from Re. He rose from the poverty of the Delta Louisiana parishes known as street-savvy political tactician.
He was reelected in 2006 even after news of the bribery scandal beginning, but was indicted and subsequently lost to Republican lawyer Anh "Joseph" Cao last December.
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