Well, sure there was key testimony from an FBI agent in the case. But at the end of the day, the jury got to see America’s most famous freezer: William Jefferson’s. The one where FBI agents found $90,000 in marked FBI bills. America’s Most Famous Freezer/Government Exhibit By Jonathan Tilove and Bruce Alpert New Orleans…
Nearly everyone has heard about the marked $90,000 in FBI money FBI agents found in Jefferson’s home freezer on Aug. 3, 2005. On Tuesday, jurors saw an FBI video of a government informant handing $100,000 to Jefferson in a brief case. When agents raided the freezer, $10,000 of that payoff was missing. The prosecution hopes…
Business woman Lori Mody wore an FBI wire during the dinner to help the FBI snare a congressman. But during the pricey meal, the conversation got a little mushy. The two started talking about a favorite childrens book Velveteen Rabbit. Will the conversation make jury more sympathetic to the ex-Congressman? By Jonathan Tilove Washington bureau…
Brett Pfeffer, a former Jefferson aide, is the second person who has testified who has pleaded guilty to bribing Jefferson and is serving time in prison. That has to be tough for the defense to explain to the jury that two people have admitted bribing the Jefferson, but that Jefferson is innocent. By Bruce Alpert…
By Rachel Leven ticklethewire.com ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The federal judge in the public corruption trial of ex-Rep. William J. Jefferson chided the government Monday, saying it needed to do a better job focusing its case. “You, the government, need to focus sharply this case,” said U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III. Ellis also criticized the…
The second week of trial begins in the Jefferson trial. Jefferson is claiming that his business dealings were private. So far, the prosecution has presented some pretty convincing evidence that Jefferson was acting in his official capacity. In any event, with 16 counts, Jefferson has an uphill battle. By Bruce Alpert New Orlean Times-Picayune ALEXANDRIA,…
By Stephanie Gallagher Fraud With Peril Blog Everyone knows that “money talks.” The biggest problem for former Congressman William J. Jefferson, however, may be that witnesses talk, even if money doesn’t. The case against Congressman Jefferson is infamous because of $90,000 in cash found in his freezer in 2005. When that money was found, the…
By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Louisiana Congressman William Jefferson was swearing. Oh was he swearing. And the FBI was secretly recording it all back in 2005, hoping the day would come when it could play the unflattering tapes to a federal jury in open court. Thursday was that day. At one point, on…
