Column: Prediction on Sentencing for Rep. William Jefferson: The Judge Won’t Give him What the Prosecution Suggests
WASHINGTON – It’s almost judgment day for ex-Rep. William Jefferson, the New Orleans Congressman who at one time seemed invincible.
That was at one time. Last year, he lost his seat in a bid for a 10th term. Then this past summer he was convicted by a federal jury on 11 of 16 public corruption charges in Alexandria, Va.
This Friday the 13th, U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III will sentence him in Alexandria. The government is asking for a sentence of 27 to 33 years. It says that’s what the federal sentencing guidelines call for. Still, I’ll be shocked if the sentence comes any where near that. I’m predicting something closer to 10 to 12 years. OK, maybe 15 tops. But no more.
I could be off, but here’s my thoughts. Jefferson is 62. That’s got to be taken into consideration. A long sentence would essentially amount to a life sentence. His crimes are egregious and an insult to the public, but they’re not worthy of a life sentence.
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Posted: November 10th, 2009 under FBI, News Story.
Tags: Duke Cunningham, sentencing, William Jefferson
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