A federal judge sentenced ex-Rep. William Jefferson (D-La.) on Friday to 13 years in prison, the longest incarceration ever ordered for a former Member of Congress.
The sentence falls short of the maximum 33 years federal prosecutors recommended in court documents. Jefferson’s attorneys recommended a term of no more than 10 years.
A federal jury in August found Jefferson guilty of 11 criminal charges, including conspiracy to solicit bribes, money laundering, wire fraud and a pattern of racketeering activity.
The jury determined Jefferson may have to forfeit up to $471,000, plus additional stock holdings, the income that he received as a result of those criminal activities.
Judge T.S. Ellis said: “Public corruption is a cancer. It needs to be surgically removed.”
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