William Jefferson Sentenced to 13 Years in Prison for Corruption

Former Rep. William Jefferson has been sentenced today to 13 years in prison for corruption charges such as hiding cash in his freezer at home.

Proescutors had originally asked for 27 to 30 years but this was considered longer than any other congressman in any recent scandal so Jefferson received the sentence of 13 years. His defense wanted less than 10 years; his 13 year sentence is thought to be the longest ever given to a former member of Congress.

Jefferson was convicted of fraud in August of 11 of 16 federal charges for fraud, money laundering, racketeering and bribery. He was charged with violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the first sitting member of congress ever to be, as he tried to bribe the vice-president of Nigeria. About $90,000 was also found in his home freezer when he was arrested.

Jefferson did not make a statement and remained silence. It is thought he is going to appeal his sentence.

His attorneys argued the Jefferson was being treated almost as a scape-goat and that while he may have done wrong, he didn't need to be made an example of. They also argued that no one had ever received a sentence of longer than 100 months for a similar case like this.

It was in 2006 that Rep. Randy Cunningham was sentenced to 8 years and 4 months for taking $2.4 million in bribes.