William Jefferson Finally Goes To Jail

Bill Smith, Editor: Over 2.66 years ago, I addressed the jury trial conviction of former Louisiana Democrat Representative William J. Jefferson. He was found guilty 11 Times.

The jury's decision has now confirmed what the voters in Louisiana knew in their gut at the last election when they ousted indicted ten term (20 years) Democratic Rep. William J. Jefferson. Today, the jury found Jefferson guilty, guilty, guilty, guilty guilty, guilty, guilty guilty, guilty, guilty, guilty! The voters of Louisiana had tolerated Jefferson far too long as their congressman and those of us "North of the border" in Arkansas appreciated the Louisiana voters replacing him even before today's jury decision.

After five days of deliberation, the jury of eight women and four men decided that Jefferson was indeed a criminal and found him guilty of 11 public-corruption charges, including bribery, money laundering and racketeering. . . . If this had been a some local drug induced criminal, they would have been sentenced on their way to the slammer, but the feds have more work to do and evidently, sentencing a former congressman takes a little longer. . . .

The charges on which Jefferson was convicted could carry up to 150 years in prison, but federal sentencing guidelines make that unlikely. Prosecutors indicated that Jefferson could be sentenced to more than 20 years in prison, but the Jefferson's defense team will seek a lighter penalty. A former U.S. congressman who is guilty of 11 counts of public-corruption charges, including bribery, money laundering and racketeering while a congressman seems to me to deserve at least a minimum of 22 years in prison. . . .

Well, justice did not follow my suggestion (more later). Instead, Mr. Jefferson was only sentenced to 13-year sentence on bribery and public corruption charges. Then he was allowed to remain free (being a former congressman has its privileges), under electronic monitor, while he appealed his convictions. Well now nearly 3 years later, Judge T.S. Ellis, who sentenced Jefferson has apparently had enough. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously rejected his attorneys' request for a new trial last month, and he is headed to the slammer.

Bruce Alpert, Times-Picayune reports today:

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Former Rep. William Jefferson, D-New Orleans, must report to prison by May 4 to to begin serving his 13-year sentence on bribery and public corruption charges, a judge ordered today, revoking his $50,000 bail.

Judge T.S. Ellis, who sentenced Jefferson to after his 2009 corruption conviction said he was setting the specific date for Jefferson to report, rather than leaving it up to the federal prison system, because of the length of time he has been allowed to remain free since his conviction.

Ellis has allowed Jefferson to remain free, under electronic monitor, while his appeals process moved forward.

The 13-year-sentence Ellis gave Jefferson, now 65, was the longest ever in a corruption case for a member of Congress, but less than half of what prosecutors had sought.

U.S. Attorney Mark Lytle, speaking in Ellis' courtroom this morning, said that when a three-judge Appellate panel for the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously rejected his attorneys' request for a new trial last month, it became clear that he isn't likely to prevail in any future appeal.

His attorneys have decided not to appeal the March 26 ruling directly to the full 4th Circuit Court of Appeals and are now expected to take their challenge directly to the U.S. Supreme Court. They have until late June to file their appeal, and the High Court, which takes a tiny percentage of requested cases, . . .

But where do you house a convicted former Representative? Well everyone is seeking a more comfortable location for this despicable criminal. As detailed in the article: "Jefferson's lawyer, agreed to the revocation of bail and urged that his client be assigned to a federal prison facility near New Orleans, possibly in Pensacola, Fla. Lytle said the prosecutors had no objection. Ellis said he would continue the recommendation he made in his 2009 sentencing order, recommending that the Bureau of Prisons assign Jefferson to a minimum security facility near New Orleans"

And we wonder what is wrong with government? Jefferson owes $5 million in legal fees and has filed for bankruptcy.  Regardless, with Jefferson's income and friends in low places he may still walkout of prison a wealthy man.  The same cannot be said for his wife and brother (Note their status on Wikepedia).   I still believe the suggested punishment in my former article would have been more appropriate for Mr. Jefferson:

Since I am a taxpayer and am tired of paying for useless program, I am suggesting a more "favorable sentencing for the taxpayers." After all, we continue to suffer by paying the bills after the usual sentencing. I suggest that Jefferson should be required to pay a fine of $22 million dollars, plus all court and federal prosecution costs, plus all monitoring costs while during a 10 years probation period and doing 5 years of public service all of which must be menial and not allow him to have public access to the elderly, children or elected or former elected officials. This sentence would save the taxpayers the cost of incarcerating Jefferson in a special prison with special treatment and protection as a former congressman. It would also help the taxpayers reclaim some of his congressional retirement which he draws for his 20 year in Congress where he leverage his position to get bribes. Oh well, we can dream of real justice for Mr. William Jefferson!

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