Posted on 05/03/2006 9:27:23 AM PDT by Thanatos
From AP Wires:
Businessman Pleads to Bribing Congressman By MATTHEW BARAKAT ASSOCIATED PRESSALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) - A Kentucky technology executive pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court to bribing a congressman in charges stemming from an investigation of a Louisiana House member.
Vernon Jackson, 53, chief executive of Louisville-based iGate Inc., pleaded guilty to bribery of a public official and conspiracy to bribe a public official.
The congressman was not identified in court documents or during Wednesday's plea hearing, but documents make clear that the congressman whom Jackson admits bribing is Rep. William Jefferson, a Democrat who represents New Orleans.
Jackson faces a maximum of 20 years when he is sentenced July 27. The plea agreement calls for a sentencing guideline range not to exceed seven to nine years, but the judge is not bound by those guidelines.
Prosecutor Mark Lytle said Jackson paid roughly $360,000 over a four-year period to a company controlled by the congressman's wife in exchange for Jefferson's help promoting iGate technology in Africa. Jackson also gave the company a 24 percent stake in iGate and paid for $80,000 in travel expenses on the congressman's trips to Africa to promote iGate.
Jackson said in court that the congressman helped iGate receive a government certification allowing the company to obtain military contracts. After that, the congressman insisted on financial compensation to continue his efforts on behalf of iGate.
"I take full responsibility for what I have done," Jackson told U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III. Jackson declined comment after the hearing.
Jackson is the second person to plead guilty in connection with the investigation of Jefferson. Lytle said the investigation is ongoing.
The congressman has not been charged. Jefferson denies any wrongdoing and his office has said he is cooperating with investigators.
Brett Pfeffer, a former legislative director for Jefferson, pleaded guilty in January to aiding and abetting bribery of a public official and conspiracy.
Pfeffer said that a congressman demanded bribes in exchange for his assistance in brokering two African telecommunications deals. Court documents make clear that Jefferson is the accused congressman, without naming him.
Jefferson denied the allegation, saying he has never demanded or accepted anything to perform a service for which he was elected.
Previous entries about Corrupt Democrat William Jefferson:
Liberal Democrat accused of post-Katrina misconduct
DNC Gives fundraiser for Corrupt Lousinia Democrat under Federal probe for Bribery
Democrat Congressman, William Jefferson, Louisiana, needs to be tried for Bribery
Well, well, well...
{cue: crickets chirping}
"It's hard for the American people to understand how corrupt it is here," the California Democrat said at a news conference.
In a letter to House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., Pelosi said Democrats expect the ethics committee to look into the "alleged violations of criminal laws and the rules of the House" by former Majority Leader Tom Delay, R-Texas, and three other Republicans with ties to Abramoff — Bob Ney of Ohio and Californians Richard Pombo and John Doolittle.
Abramoff has pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy, tax evasion and mail fraud charges for his influence-peddling activities, but so far no member of Congress has been indicted.
Pelosi's letter did not ask the ethics committee to investigate an unrelated case involving Democratic Rep. William Jefferson of Louisiana.
Sept. 13, 2005 — - Amid the chaos and confusion that engulfed New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina struck, a congressman used National Guard troops to check on his property and rescue his personal belongings -- even while New Orleans residents were trying to get rescued from rooftops, ABC News has learned. Finally, according to the source, Jefferson emerged with a laptop computer, three suitcases, and a box about the size of a small refrigerator, which the enlisted men loaded up into the truck.
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