Former Democratic Congressman William Jefferson was found guilty of 11 of 16 corruption charges today by a federal jury.He was acquitted of obstruction of justice and violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which makes it illegal to bribe foreign government officials.
The jury of eight women and four men returned a guilty verdict following five days of deliberation.
Jefferson, who represented the New Orleans-based 2nd Congressional District for nine terms, will now face sentencing by Judge T.S. Ellis III, who earlier meted out stiff sentences for lesser figures in the case. According to the U.S. attorney’s office, Jefferson faced 235 years in prison if convicted on all counts, and will still face substantial prison time.
In a six-week trial, prosecutors said that from 2000 to 2005, Mr. Jefferson sought hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes from a dozen companies involved in oil, communications, sugar and other businesses, often for projects in Africa.
Mr. Jefferson’s chief lawyer, Robert Trout, told The A.P. that he would appeal.
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