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One-Time And Bolitics: Former Louisiana Democratic Congressman Sentenced
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Posted by Bossip Staff
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In 2006, we told you about a former Democratic Congressman from Louisiana, William Jefferson, getting popped for accepting money from the Feds and hiding all kinds of loot in his freezer. He has just been sentenced to a boat load of jail time:
A federal judge sentenced former Rep. William Jefferson, (D) of Louisiana, to 13 years in prison for his conviction on corruption charges that famously included hiding cash in his home freezer.
Prosecutors had asked for a term of 27 to 33 years under federal sentencing guidelines. The request was significantly longer than for other congressmen in recent scandals. Defense lawyers had sought a term of less than 10 years. The 13 year sentence, which Jefferson’s lawyers have 10 days to appeal, is believed to be the longest ever given to a former member of Congress.
Jefferson, who represented part of New Orleans, was convicted in August on 11 of 16 federal charges of bribery, fraud, money laundering, and racketeering. He was also the first sitting member of Congress to be charged with violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Jefferson tried to bribe the then-vice president of Nigeria. Some $90,000 of that bribe was found in Jefferson’s freezer when federal agents raided his home.
In imposing the sentence Friday afternoon in a courtroom in Alexandria, Virginia, Judge T.S. Ellis III said Jefferson’s conduct was “a cancer on the body politic.”
On the advice of his attorney, Jefferson declined the opportunity to make a statement at his sentencing, and he remained silent because he plans to appeal his conviction.
In sentencing documents, federal prosecutors accused Jefferson of a “stunning betrayal of public trust” and sought a sentence that could amount to life for the 62 year-old former member of Congress.
“The defendant betrayed the public’s trust time after time by using his congressional office as a criminal enterprise to further a pattern of racketeering acts of corruption and self-enrichment,” prosecutors wrote. They noted that Jefferson had participated in “no fewer than eleven distinct bribe schemes.”
That is exactly what his low life self deserved. We don’t think he will ever see the free world again.
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justme
11/14/09, 09:36:am
1st?
Krucial diva
11/14/09, 09:37:am
I have nothing to say other than im first…being first is like clamaxing haahaa ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Ms.EJ
11/14/09, 10:07:am
Unfortunately, most politicians are crooks. Now, I do not condone anything illegal, but dude couldn’t find a better place to hide the money? the freezer! WTheck. I’ve heard of people burying money in the ground especially with the amount he had, but that is what happens when you do illegal things.
Get Real
11/14/09, 10:44:am
13yrs for doing something non-violent & no drugs involved…..THAT IS BULL$HIT! That woman who drove cross country in a pamper to take out her romantic competition just received probation. If she completes probation with no problem, her entire record will be wiped clean as if the bytch was NEVER arrested!
The stunt that ballon boy father pulled cost the gov’t more than what this politician had in his freezer. He is pleading guilty to a misdemeanor & getting probation because they don’t want to tear a white family appart.
It’s applauing!
YorkieLover
11/14/09, 11:05:am
Can a black “leader” actually do right? We can’t blame the younger black generation for all the problems, look at the older ones!! We hardly have any high profile leaders who are doing their job right
always knew
11/14/09, 12:02:pm
Ms.EJ
Unfortunately, most politicians are crooks. Now, I do not condone anything illegal, but dude couldn’t find a better place to hide the money? the freezer! WTheck. I’ve heard of people burying money in the ground especially with the amount he had, but that is what happens when you do illegal things.
_____________
that was crazy…
YorkieLover
Can a black “leader” actually do right? We can’t blame the younger black generation for all the problems, look at the older ones!! We hardly have any high profile leaders who are doing their job right
_______________
that’s true, too, unfortunately…
always knew
11/14/09, 12:03:pm
Still he’s an old man, and I wish things had worked out differently for him and his wife…
Ayesha
11/14/09, 12:40:pm
That is too much damn time for a non-violent crime! You got murderers and child molesters who don’t do as much time.
heavenup7
11/14/09, 14:36:pm
TO THOSE WHO SAY HE GOT TO MUCH TIME: HE IS BLACK-GROW UP-THIS IS AMERICA
justin
11/14/09, 14:56:pm
all the while paul bremmer left the US w/ 9 billion of american cash and took it supposely over to iraq. and it disappeared or vanished into thin air…. and their was no white republican rage, and no one will do a day…. for that caper
white male
11/14/09, 15:33:pm
Dang they made an example of him. Pretty harsh but he should of considered that before was all corupt
dhievah
11/14/09, 18:58:pm
William Jefferson deserved more time than that for these crimes. When Katrina Hit he had the military drive him to his home in uptown New Orleans–I know–I lived down the street from him and I know his whole family. Jalisa Jefferson–his daughter is a crook, the sister and wife stole from southern university in New orleans and The worst–while people were suffering in New Orleans–he had the military bring him to his house so he could get money out of his freezer. That whole family is a bunch of crooks and needs to burn in hell after they’ve served jail time. Don’t just wonder about his crime–he’s a hot mess.
Denise
11/14/09, 19:24:pm
Thank you, dhievah, for putting this is perspective.
New Orleans
11/14/09, 19:47:pm
I know them personally and they have always had their noses in the air. The whole family is a hot mess, it’s too much to tell.
1TruDiva w/the PlatinumVocals---Pimpin, Platinum style!!! J-Hud's concert was OFF THE MEAT RACK!!!!!!!!!
11/15/09, 00:36:am
Dang!
Money stored in the freezer? That’s what you call cold, hard cash!
I should’ve asked him to let me hold sumfin!
tammy
11/15/09, 03:19:am
I lived in Ne orleans too and went to school with Jalisa. They tried to buy her a seat in the house of representatives–it didn’t work. Dhievah is correct. These people didn’t care about the people of new Orleans. They just wanted money. And if truth be told there was a whole lot more money involved than 100,000 dollars. It was millions. Southern U. lost big time and so did NOLA.