Mose Jefferson (brother of Billy Jeff RAT-LA) seeks dismissal of racketeering indictment

NOLA ^ | 6/08/09 | Michael Kunzelman

[Libloather]

Mose Jefferson seeks dismissal of racketeering indictment
by Michael Kunzelman, The Associated Press
Monday June 08, 2009, 2:11 PM

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- A former Louisiana congressman's brother asked a federal judge Monday to dismiss the racketeering conspiracy case against him, his girlfriend and two of his relatives, calling it a politically motivated prosecution.

Arthur Lemann III, one of Mose Jefferson's lawyers, claims the case against his client is fueled by "the high tide of the public outrage" over the separate corruption charges against his brother, former Rep. William Jefferson, whose trial in Virginia is scheduled to start Tuesday.

"In the final analysis, this is a political prosecution initiated by the office of a Republican prosecutor against a minority neighborhood association led by the Jefferson family," Lemann wrote in a 20-page court filing Monday.

U.S. Attorney Jim Letten didn't immediately return a call for comment Monday.

A 34-count indictment handed up last month accuses Mose Jefferson; his girlfriend, former state Rep. Renee Gill Pratt; his sister, New Orleans tax assessor Betty Jefferson; and his niece, Angela Coleman, of conspiring to pocket hundreds of thousands of dollars in grant money earmarked for charitable and educational programs.

**SNIP**

Lemann said the charges against Mose Jefferson and Gill Pratt aren't a product of "criminal design" but rather "the accident of birth for him and a romantic alliance for her."

"In essence," he wrote, "this prosecution seeks to criminalize the patronage system (for some) and the unwise widespread legislative practice of making general appropriation grants without restrictions on public use."

Lemann's bid to have the indictment dismissed is scheduled to be heard June 17 by U.S. District Judge Ivan Lemelle.

[Libloather]

...but rather "the accident of birth for him"...

Can he prove it? Hussein sure can't.

Billy Jeff's trial starts tomorrow. Money Stashed in Freezer Is Key in William Jefferson RAT-LA Trial

[chemicalman]

"In the final analysis, this is a political prosecution initiated by the office of a Republican prosecutor against a minority neighborhood association led by the Jefferson family,"

Mose isn't a politician. His brother is.
That's how to use the lib "blame everyone but yourself".