Jefferson Pleads Not Guilty
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) – Represemtative William Jefferson pleaded not guilty Friday to charges of soliciting more than $400,000 in bribes while trying to broker business deals in Africa.
Mr. Jefferson, De,pcrat of Louisiana, said he understood the charges during the federal court hearing. He was released on $100,000 bond.
A 94-page indictment, handed down Monday, details 11 separate bribery schemes and 16 criminal counts, including racketeering, soliciting bribes, wire fraud, money laundering and obstruction of justice.
If convicted, Mr. Jefferson faces a possible maximum sentence of 235 years. His trial is scheduled for January.
The charges came almost two years after investigators raided Jefferson’s home in Washington and found $90,000 in cash stuffed in a box in his freezer.
