Posted on 05/03/2006 10:46:45 AM PDT by Thanatos
ALEXANDRIA, 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.
500 current members of congress are severely sadden that this fellow could not get his offers to them. Very sadden.
Looking forward to wall to wall coverage on the Drive by MSM today.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!!!
LOL
Nothing to see here.
Rep. William Jefferson, Democrat, Louisiana is in trouble.
Wouldn't it be more interesting to see "Congressman bribes a businessman"? Sort of "man bites dog" kind of news.
LOL, who do you think runs this country? IT'S BUSINESS. Everything from Frist putting a rider on Sensenbrenner's bill that would allow 65,000 more H1B visas into this country (because you know we don't have "enough engineers" - despite they're continually laid off in droves) to the turning of a blind eye to illegal immigration. DESPITE THE FACT THEY COST YOU A FORTUNE...
Pfft... this is small potatoes... when I lived in India, it would have been an insult for anyone to even suggest trying to bribe a member of parliament for something like 360000$.
Heck, the premier and most corrupt chief minister (like a governor) of Indias most corrupt and basket case state, was indicted some ten eyars ago for pilfering about 250 Million USD meant, of all things, for cattle feed!!
India isnt a poor country... not by a long shot, contrary to popular opinion. Theres plenty of money to go around. Its too bad that some people are so greedy that even the billions they steal arent enough for them.
And yet, the country progresses.
Take heart. Americans will do just fine, even with their politicians hands in the cookie jar.
Obviously Bush's fault.
Oh that evil Culture of Corruption!!!
(I don't think Pelosi will make a mad dash to the cameras about this.)
Welllll, maybe if the Federales didn't have the power to destroy the a business at any time, or limitless money to lavish of them, they wouldn't need to bribe congresscritters.
Speculation is that the property he saved was cash and computer records. Sure seems like he is in a world of hurt, in due course. Time will tell.
IMO.....
Rush reporting this now.
Pelosi needs to make a mad dash to get an IQ test after her comment today. It amazes me to no end that someone of her position doesn't have the foggiest concept of how a free market works.
William Jefferson - add a Clinto to the end and it's no wonder the guy is dirty. IMO, it is nuts to beat the hell out of those offering the bribes if they aren't going to absolutely crush the "public servants" who take the bribes. It's bribe takers that are truly betraying the public trust.
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