Steven A. Tyrrell, Acting Chief, Fraud Section, Criminal Division
Mark F. Mendelsohn, Deputy Chief, Fraud Section, Criminal Division
Charles E. Duross, Deputy Chief, Fraud Section, Criminal Division
Michael K. Atkinson, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney
Rebeca H. Bellows, Assistant United States Attorney
Neil H. MacBride, United States Attorney
US Assisting Agencies:
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN)
Foreign Enforcement Action/Investigation:
Unknown
Foreign Assistance:
Unknown
Origin of the Proceeding:
Unknown
Whistleblower:
Yes (Government informant )
Case Status:
Resolved
Summary
According to the allegations in the indictment, from approximately August 2000 to August 2005, William J. Jefferson, a Member of the United States House of Representatives, demanded and accepted bribes in exchange for using his official position to promote the business interests of companies that were seeking to obtain and conduct business in West African nations.
Jefferson also agreed to pay a bribe to Nigeria's former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, for the benefit of a Nigerian Joint Venture that sought to develop telecommunications and Internet services in Nigeria. The bribe would allegedly consist of a "front-end" payment of $500,000 to the official and a "back-end" payment of at least half of one company's share of the Joint Venture's profits. U.S. authorities seized a portion of the intended "front-end" payment from Jefferson's freezer when they raided his home in 2005. No portion of the promised bribe appears to have been paid.
On June 4, 2007, a federal grand jury indicted Jefferson on 16 charges, including soliciting bribes, racketeering, money laundering, obstruction of justice, wire fraud, conspiracy and violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. A jury convicted Jefferson on eleven counts, including conspiracy to violate the FCPA. He was acquitted on five other charges, including an alleged FCPA violation. Jefferson was sentenced to 13 years in prison and ordered to forfeit $470,000.
On March 29, 2012, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed all of Jefferson's convinctions except his wire fraud conviction, which the court vacated for improper venue.
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