ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — Federal prosecutors are seeking a prison term of at least 27 years for a former Louisiana congressman convicted of taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes.
William Jefferson, a Democrat who represented parts of New Orleans, was convicted of bribery, racketeering and other counts. The case made headlines when authorities found $90,000 cash hidden in his freezer.
He will be sentenced on Friday. Prosecutors are urging the judge to stick to federal sentencing guidelines, which call for a term of 27 to 33 years. Such a term would be significantly longer than those received by other congressman in recent scandals.
The government also wants Jefferson to begin serving his sentence immediately after Friday’s hearing. He is currently free on bond.
——Contact The Daily Reveille news staff at [email protected].