Posted on 01/12/2006 8:31:17 PM PST by NormsRevenge
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia (Reuters) - Louisiana Democratic Rep. William Jefferson (news, bio, voting record) sought a cut of a Nigerian telecommunications venture in return for his help setting it up, a former aide said on Wednesday as he pleaded guilty to bribery charges.
In return for lobbying Nigerian officials and arranging a loan through the U.S. Import-Export Bank, Jefferson demanded an ownership stake in a venture by two U.S. companies to provide high-speed Internet and cable television to Nigeria, former aide Brett Pfeffer said.
"The congressman told me he would require 5 to 7 percent of ownership of the company," Pfeffer told U.S. Judge T.S. Ellis. "He was to help promote the business opportunity to Nigerian officials."
Pfeffer, 37, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery and aiding and abetting the solicitation of bribes by a member of Congress for his role as a go-between in the deal, and agreed to cooperate in the investigation.
He faces up to 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.
According to a statement of facts released in the plea deal, Jefferson sought to place a relative on the company's payroll at a salary of $2,500 to $5,000 per month and steer legal work toward another relative.
Jefferson also lobbied government officials in Ghana to try to set up a similar venture there, according to the plea deal.
A Jefferson spokeswoman declined to comment.
The agreement comes as Congress faces the largest corruption scandal in decades. Lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty to fraud last week and admitted that he provided golf trips, campaign contributions and other gifts to lawmakers in exchange for favorable treatment for his clients.
The Abramoff scandal so far has largely implicated Republicans like former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, but Pfeffer's agreement could make it difficult for Democrats to portray corruption as a strictly Republican issue as they try to win back control of Congress.
Jefferson is not named in Pfeffer's plea agreement, which only describes a "Representative A" who employed Pfeffer from 1995 to 1998.
News accounts from that period cite Pfeffer as Jefferson's legislative director.
According to court papers, Pfeffer's investment firm in 2004 agreed to invest $45 million to provide high-speed Internet and cable TV service to Nigeria over the existing copper telephone wires there.
Jefferson recruited Pfeffer's company for the deal and connected it to a Kentucky technology provider whose equipment would be used in the venture. As the agreement was signed he told Pfeffer he would require an ownership stake, according to court papers.
"Pfeffer understood that Representative A was soliciting a bribe in return for Representative A's official assistance in furthering the Nigerian Deal. Pfeffer .... later advised (his boss) that it was part of the cost of doing business with Representative A," the plea deal said.
Pfeffer's boss is not named in the plea deal but is described as a witness cooperating in the investigation.
Pfeffer's lawyer declined to comment after the hearing.
U.S. Assistant Attorney Mark Lytle also declined to comment.
Jefferson has held his seat since 1990, representing many New Orleans neighborhoods that were devastated by Hurricane Katrina. He serves on the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee.
An August 2005 FBI raid on his homes in Washington and New Orleans found thousands of dollars in cash stored in a freezer, according to news reports.
Jefferson traveled to Nigeria in February 2004 and Ghana in July 2005, according to congressional campaign-finance records.
The $9,248 Ghana trip was paid for by Win Win Strategies Foundation, which did not return a call seeking comment.
A Kentucky technology company called iGate Inc. helped underwrite the Nigeria trip. News accounts indicate that iGate participated in the venture with Pfeffer's company. The company could not be reached for comment.
Representative William Jefferson (D-LA) speaks at a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington September 15, 2005. Jefferson sought a cut of a Nigerian telecommunications venture in return for his help setting it up, a former aide said on Wednesday as he pleaded guilty to bribery charges. (Chris Kleponis/Reuters)
Reuters hack at story..
AP version yesterday..
VA: Ex-Political Aide Pleads Guilty to Bribery (Rep. William Jefferson, D-LA) ^
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1556281/posts
Democrat's Culture of Corruption.
I wonder if he gave the Nigerians his account number, so that they could deposit to it...
btt
The Abramoff scandal so far has largely implicated Republicans like former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, but Pfeffer's agreement could make it difficult for Democrats to portray corruption as a strictly Republican issue as they try to win back control of Congress.
---
awwwwwwww.....
That article from last nights thread IS better...
All I can say is...Nancy Pelosi was JUST a bit premature in her letter she sent to Hastert today....demanding that "the most corrupt Republcian Congress in history" clean up its act.
tee hee hee
2PAC Pelosi'll never make it on the World Poker Tour with bluffs like that.
I can't wait until Congress comes back...I think we have a "bring it on" feeling by the GOP right now.
I just hope that Frist is up to it in the Senate....but, he never ceases to disappoint me...so I won't count on it.
"I wonder if he gave the Nigerians his account number, so that they could deposit to it..."
Dear Sir:
I have been requested by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company to contact you for assistance in resolving a matter. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company has recently concluded a large number of contracts for oil exploration in the sub-Sahara region. The contracts have immediately produced moneys equalling US$40,000,000. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company is desirous of oil exploration in other parts of the world, however, because of certain regulations of the Nigerian Government, it is unable to move these funds to another region.
You assistance is requested as a non-Nigerian citizen to assist the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, and also the Central Bank of Nigeria, in moving these funds out of Nigeria. If the funds can be transferred to your name, in your United States account, then you can forward the funds as directed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company. In exchange for your accomodating services, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company would agree to allow you to retain 10%, or US$4 million of this amount.
However, to be a legitimate transferee of these moneys according to Nigerian law, you must presently be a depositor of at least US$100,000 in a Nigerian bank which is regulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
If it will be possible for you to assist us, we would be most grateful. We suggest that you meet with us in person in Lagos, and that during your visit I introduce you to the representatives of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, as well as with certain officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Please call me at your earliest convenience at [Phone Number]. Time is of the essence in this matter; very quickly the Nigerian Government will realize that the Central Bank is maintaining this amount on deposit, and attempt to levy certain depository taxes on it.
Yours truly, etc.
Ben Ahore
Except that in this case, they were offering him telephone profits...lol
A dem involved in a modified 419 scam. Gee, what a shocker. /Sarcasm
No kidding, aren't they supposed to be smarter than that? LOL
I saw a website where the guy made the scammers take hilarious pics to self-identify...
One of the e-mails that I received stated that "A wealthy foreigner in our country with your surname recently died" and that since we shared surnames, I would receive the sum of his estate IF I submitted a "processing fee". Geez, like I am going to fall for that crap. Who do they think I am? Howard Dean?
I got an e-mail about that deal, too!
Howard Dean, the nutbag gift that keeps on giving, and giving, and ...
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