Judge Freezes Congressman's Assets { Jefferson and his cold cash }

AP via SFGate ^ | 6/7/7

[SmithL]

Alexandria, Va. (AP) -- A federal judge Thursday froze the assets of Rep. William Jefferson, the Louisiana Democrat who was indicted this week on charges of soliciting bribes.

A forfeiture charge is among the 16 criminal counts Jefferson is facing. Prosecutors have already said they will seek to recoup hundreds of thousands of dollars from Jefferson that they believe he obtained illicitly by peddling his influence to help broker business deals in Africa.

Jefferson is scheduled to be arraigned Friday in U.S. District Court. The indictment, issued Monday, said Jefferson received more than $500,000 in bribes and sought millions more in separate schemes to enrich himself.

The charges and the freezing of his assets come almost two years after investigators raided Jefferson's home in Washington and found $90,000 in cash stuffed in his freezer. Jefferson maintained his innocence but resigned from the Small Business Committee.

The restraining order issued Thursday by U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III lists two savings accounts with Dryades Savings Bank and Chevy Chase Bank with a combined value of more than $470,000, plus certain stock holdings that Jefferson is barred from liquidating.

[SmithL]

Yeah, but Jefferson froze it first.

[SmithL]

Ellis, Thomas Selby III

Born 1940 in Bogota, Columbia

Federal Judicial Service:
Judge, U. S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia
Nominated by Ronald Reagan on July 1, 1987, to a seat vacated by Robert R. Merhige; Confirmed by the Senate on August 5, 1987, and received commission on August 6, 1987. Assumed senior status on April 1, 2007.

Education:
Princeton University, B.S.E., 1961

Harvard University, J.D., 1969

Oxford University, Diploma in Law, 1970

Professional Career:
U.S. Navy, 1961-1966
Private practice, Richmond, VA, 1969-1987
Lecturer in law, College of William and Mary, 1981-1983

Race or Ethnicity: White

Gender: Male

[ghost of nixon]

correction - that would be “re-freezes” Jefferson’s cash

[digger48]

Some headlines write themselves! LOL!

[cbkaty]

zing of his assets come almost two years after investigators raided Jefferson's home

Two years to cover his tracks.....hmmmmmm.

[Otaku6]

I would hate to have my career end in a pun.

[alecqss]

There is probably a patent violation on part of judge... Mr. Jefferson might complain about unauthorized use of the capital preservation method he discovered.

[wearearepublic]

I guess Louisiana is a lot like Maine, California, Massachusetts and New Mexico, states where if you can’t make ends meet you get elected and go on the take.

[abb]

I guess Louisiana is a lot like Maine, California, Massachusetts and New Mexico, states where if you can’t make ends meet you get elected and go on the take.

While my state cannot claim invention of that scam, I can say without fear of contradiction that Louisiana refined to a high art...

[TornadoAlley3]

Rep. William Jefferson pleads ‘not guilty’ to 16 corruption charges at arraignment. The trial has been scheduled for January 2008.