Right Juris

Former Representative William Jefferson has been sentenced to 13 years in prison. His sentence was handed down today by a federal judge who called his behavior ‘a cancer on the body politic.’ His sentence on corruption charges is the longest sentence ever imposed on a member of Congress.

The former democratic Congressman from Louisiana, William Jefferson, is probably best known as a late night comic punch line these days. He has been such since the FBI raided his home and found about $90,000 in cash in his freezer. Cold cash Jefferson was found guilty of bribery, fraud, racketeering and money laundering in August 2009. Today, he faced a federal judge in the United States District Court in Alexandria, Virginia and was sentenced for corruption during his years as a public servant.

Alexandria, Virginia, Judge T.S. Ellis III called Jefferson’s conduct a ‘cancer on the body politic’ before imposing a sentence of 13 years on the former Congressman. Prosecutors accused him of a ’stunning betrayal of public trust’ and of using his ‘congressional office as a criminal enterprise’. On the advice of his attorneys, Jefferson, 62-years-old, did not make a statement to the court during his hearing today. His lawyers are appealing the conviction.

Jefferson’s sentence is the longest of any congressman convicted on corruption charges. However, in addition to the above mentioned charges, he is the only sitting member of Congress to be charged with violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. That charge stems from his attempt to bribe the vice-president of Nigeria.

It hasn’t yet been determined when Jefferson will have to report to start serving his time. Judge Ellis is expected to make a decision about when he’s to report next week.