Be afraid. Be very afraid...
Posted on 05/27/2006 6:49:00 AM PDT by Libloather
Aide says Jefferson cooked up scheme
Assistant sentenced to 8 years in prison
Saturday, May 27, 2006
By Bill Walsh
Washington bureau
ALEXANDRIA, VA. -- A former aide to U.S. Rep. William Jefferson, D-New Orleans, said Friday that it was the congressman's idea to solicit bribes to promote a telecommunications deal in West Africa that began as a legitimate business venture.
"I've gone over it 10 million times in my head," Brett Pfeffer, 37, said at his sentencing in U.S. District Court. "I don't know why I didn't look him in the eye and say 'No.' "
**SNIP**
According to court records, Pfeffer served as the initial go-between for Jefferson in his dealings with a wealthy northern Virginia woman, Lori Mody, who ultimately agreed to invest money in a business deal in Nigeria. Mody would eventually become an FBI informant and tape her meetings with Jefferson, documents show.
Pfeffer, a legislative assistant to Jefferson from 1995 to 1998, was working at Mody's McLean, Va., investment firm in 2004 when Jefferson pitched a business opportunity. It involved Kentucky-based iGate Inc., which Jefferson was helping to launch its high-speed Internet technology and cable television service in West Africa.
Pfeffer proposed the deal to Mody, who ultimately sank $3.5 million into the venture. According to court records, Jefferson later told Pfeffer that to continue to push the deal, he wanted 5 percent to 7 percent of the new Nigerian company Mody set up and to have a member of his family put on the payroll for $2,500 to $5,000 per month. Prosecutors have estimated the value of the arrangement at between $400,000 and $1 million.
**SNIP**
Vernon Jackson, the CEO of iGate, has admitted paying more than $450,000 to a company controlled by Jefferson's family. He is scheduled to be sentenced in July.
(Excerpt) Read more at nola.com ...
I just checked and you're right - he temporarily resigned. Pretty rare when a Dem steps down so the evidence is probably pretty solid. I noticed that the second in line, Rep. Stubbs, is also in some trouble so Pelosi went to the third in succession, Rep. Berman.
Ben, where'd you find that info? Just curious because I haven't seen any press reports on his resignation, temp or otherwise.
I think it gave the date as May 27:
http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/041906/mollohan.html
Ha, Ha. Does seem to fit the pattern. Right on.
Mody's Virginia charitable foundation was listed as the financing agent for a $9,000 trip Jefferson took to Ghana last July to talk up the project, months after sources say she began recording conversations with Jefferson for the FBI. Three months before the Ghana trip, she donated $2,100 to the congressman's re-election campaign, records show.
http://tinyurl.com/mmeyr
.......$400,000 .....
There is an expression "chump change"
In the world of balck crooks perhaps there should be an expression "Kojo change" Four hundred grand is apparently what's needed to clear out the bottom feeding politicos in Nigeriaa deals.
Jefferson was responsible for bringing to the table Norbert Simmons, a wealthy New Orleans businessman and former riverboat casino owner with long-standing political ties to the congressman. Simmons, whose name appears in federal subpoenas, offered to invest money in the faltering deal
http://tinyurl.com/q9srs
He should resign or be kicked out...but the spineless fellow weasels wont do it.
That is the obvious solution to the dilemma: Congress has 45 days to get its own house in order - or at least start to. If not, it's off to the courthouse, where Congress will lose (all the way to SCOTUS if they try to push it that far). More to the point, Congressmen will lose in November if they don't force William Jefferson (Democrat, Louisiana) out of Congress in the 45 days, or at least begin to move in that direction.
You aren't Billy Jeff's defense attorney - are ya?
Oh PLEASE tell me Vermin Jackson is FINALLY going to jail where he belongs.
Jefferson staffer says she was subpoenaed
> Grand jury investigating Nigerian telecom deal
By Bill Walsh
Washington bureau
WASHINGTON - A staffer for U.S. Rep. William Jefferson, D-New Orleans, notified the House of Representatives on Thursday that she had been subpoenaed by a northern Virginia grand jury investigating business deals connected to the congressman.
Angelle Kwemo, a legislative assistant to Jefferson, was required to make the disclosure under House rules. She didn't provide any further details.
In a brief phone call, Kwemo declined to comment and quickly hung up.
The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating Jefferson in connection with a telecommunications deal he was trying to arrange in Nigeria, according to those familiar with the case. The probe came to light Aug. 3 when the FBI raided the congressman's homes and, according to published reports, carted off cash from a freezer.
Jefferson has declined to comment.
Kwemo's name first surfaced in August in subpoenas seeking a broad array of documents relating to Jefferson and a Kentucky-based telecommunications firm, iGate Corp. The firm sought the congressman's help in breaking into the fast-expanding high-speed Internet market in Nigeria. The grand jury has been impanelled in Alexandria, Va., a Washington suburb.
Jefferson hired Kwemo, a native of Cameroon, in July. She holds a law degree from a French university and an advanced law degree from American University, and spent five years as a corporate lawyer in Africa, according to a biography provided by Jefferson's office. She also has worked with AIDS activist groups.
On Aug. 3, the FBI also raided the Maryland home of Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar, seeking documents connecting him and his wife, Jennifer, to the congressman and the telecommunications deal. Jennifer Abubakar, a graduate student at American University, founded the Gede Foundation in Washington, D.C., to combat AIDS in African and other developing countries.
There is Jesse Jackson.
There is Vernon Jordan.
And, of course, we have Vernon Jackson. Is Vernon Jackson the MAIN vermin?
Vermin JORDAN.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.