Jury questioning William Jefferson (D-La) associate

NOLA ^ | 5/08/07 | Bruce Alpert

[Libloather]

Jury questioning Jefferson associate
Her firm helped pay for trip to Africa
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
By Bruce Alpert

WASHINGTON -- The president of a company that helped pay for U.S. Rep. William Jefferson's trip to Western Africa in 2004 has signed a "testimonial agreement" with federal prosecutors and appeared before the grand jury on at least five days in the ongoing corruption investigation of the New Orleans Democrat.

Disclosure of the grand jury appearance by Noreen Wilson, president of Global Environmental Energy, was made in billing documents filed by an attorney for the company in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New Orleans. Attorney Joseph Artabane is seeking permission from the court to have his legal bills paid by the bankrupt firm.

Global Environmental Energy Corp., which in 2004 was known as LETH Energy and was based in New Orleans, joined iGate Inc. of Kentucky and some other companies in financing Jefferson's trip to Western Africa in 2004.

**SNIP**

Testimonial agreement

The billing documents filed with the New Orleans bankruptcy court indicate that Wilson testified before the Virginia grand jury hearing the Jefferson case in October 2006, and that two months later she met with Artabane to discuss the "need for testimonial agreement if cooperation is to continue."

In his billing memos, Artabane said he discussed the documents and testimony being sought by the government with Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Lytle, who is the government's lead prosecutor in the Jefferson investigation.

The testimonial agreement, several legal experts said, probably was to provide Wilson and Global with immunity against any prosecution based either directly or indirectly on her testimony. Artabane, in a Feb. 19 billing memo, refers to a draft e-mail message regarding the government's "signature on the agreement."

[Libloather]

Must've been 'pick the perp' day...

Rev. Jesse Jackson, Mayor Ray Nagin and U.S. Rep. William Jefferson, D-LA, (L-R) lead a march, calling for the rights of residents displaced by Hurricane Katrina to return and rebuild their homes, in New Orleans April 28, 2007. REUTERS/Lee Celano (UNITED STATES)

[Signalman]

No justice, no peace.

Yeah!

[bcsco]

The testimonial agreement, several legal experts said, probably was to provide Wilson and Global with immunity against any prosecution based either directly or indirectly on her testimony.

We haven't heard much about this. And may not be all MSM's fault. The work to put him away may still be continuing. Things like this, against a standing Congresscritter, take time.

[digger48]

If indicted, would it be in DC? Is the reason for the lack of prosecutions of the Democrats because they would face a jury picked from a 94% friendly jury pool?

Like the one that convicted Scooter of not remembering things the same as Liberal reporters did?

[Brilliant]

As slow as molasses in January...

[conservative in nyc]

We haven't heard much about this.

We haven't heard much about this because there is effectively a gag order on the parties in the case. And you're not going to hear about grand jury testimony unless the person testifying or their lawyer talk to the press about it (which they are entitled to do). The prosecution and the grand jurors themselves are sworn to secrecy.

[bcsco]

We haven't heard much about this because there is effectively a gag order on the parties in the case.

All good points. Thanks.

[ken5050]

Funny.. we used to get upset here at how the Dems refused to deal with Jefferson. Well, I’d say the delay cause by Pelosi’s failure may just come back to haunt them around next election..

[D-fendr]

...joined iGate Inc.

iGategate

[bcsco]

Well, I’d say the delay cause by Pelosi’s failure may just come back to haunt them around next election..

And wouldn't that be nice! Mmmmmmm, I love the smell of fear in the morning, afternoon...well, whatever.

[Liz]

" Look, I had $90 large ones in my freezer because, as a compassionate Democrat, I was helping out a distinguished foreign dignitary."

"What happened was I got an email from Nigerian General Kachinga Cheatchusuckah who had a problem."

"So once Gen Cheatchusuckah transfers Idi Amin's secret Ugandan gold
reserves from the Swiss bank vault to a refrigerated truck I leased........"

[billhilly]

Nestles New Orleans. If it ain’t chocolate, it ain’t shi_!

[billhilly]

Good to hear from you again, and to see that you are still in great form.

[blam]

Hey, it's our society today: If you can get away with it, it's okay.

[Islander7]

Additional tidbits.

This link is to a form removing the corporation from the state of Delaware to Nassau, Bahamas. Wouldn't this create a 'foreign' entity paying for Jefferson's safari?

http://sec.edgar-online.com/2004/08/31/0001164150-04-000138/Section9.asp

1). That Global Environmental Energy Corporation, formerly known as Life Energy & Technology Inc, shall cause its situs of incorporation to be moved from Delaware to Nassau in the Commonwealth of Bahamas effective Monday August 30, 2004; and.....

http://freerealtime.brand.edgar-online.com/EFX_dll/EDGARpro.dll?FetchFilingOrig1?SessionID=eDwEj7y2l3i1CHQ&ID=3416740

"....1. Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies

In August of 2004 Life Energy & Technology Holdings, Inc ("LETH" or ("LIFE") changed its name to Global Environmental Energy Corp (the "Company" or "GLOBAL")immediately thereafter the Company changed its domicile from Delaware to the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. LIFE was initially organized in Ireland in November 2000. On December 4th 2000, LIFE merged with Health-Pak DE, a Delaware corporation formed in December 1987. That transaction was accounted for as a reverse acquisition with LIFE deemed to be the accounting acquirer. The former business operations of the Health-Pak DE., conducted through its wholly owned subsidiary, Health-Pak New York, were discontinued by a formal plan for disposal adopted upon the merger of the Company in November 2000...."

This is a list of filings for one Mr. Salim Ghafari. It appears Mr. Ghafari may be a citizen of Lebanon. Haven't confirmed that yet.

http://www.experience.com/alumnus/channel_hoovers_employer_profile?channel_id=nonprofit&source_page=&id=115302

Company Type Public (OTC: GEECF ) Fiscal Year-End May 2004 Sales (mil.) $0.0 2004 Net Income (mil.) ($9.6) 2004 Employees 26 1-Year Employee Growth 0.0%

This is the LETH website. Just a picture of cancelled check. LOL

http://www.le-th.com/

http://www.zoominfo.com/people/Ghafari_Salim_430601308.aspx

Dr. Salim Ghafari - Vice President For Middle Eastern Operations Dr. Ghafari is a specialist in oil and gas operations, having served as an independent consultant to numerous oil and gas companies principally in the Middle East and North Africa from 1986 through 1993.

From 1993 to 1999 he worked for McCormack Consulting of Ireland as a specialist in oil and gas exploration. Dr. Ghafari received a Masters in Business Administration from Christian University of Beirut in 1986.

[Dahoser]

The guy shouldn’t worry at all. Denny Hastert is due over the hill any minute now with the calvary.