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video, tape, movie, Former LA Congressman William J. Jefferson is sentenced to 13 years in prison. On Friday 62 year old former Louisiana Congressman, Democrat William Jennings Jefferson, affectionately known to his friends as Bill, and to his admirers and political adversaries as Dollar Bill, was sentenced by a federal judge in Alexandria, Virginia to 13 years in prison. Former Democratic Louisiana Congressman William Jefferson, left, enters U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Va. on Friday, Nov. 13, 2009 for sentencing in his bribery case accompanied by his wife Andrea Jefferson. Jefferson was convicted on charges including bribery and racketeering. Prosecutors said he took in nearly half a million dollars in exchange for using his influence to broker business deals in Africa. Prosecutors were asking for 27 years, however, the judge ascertained that sentencing Jefferson to 27 years would be in consideration to his age, sentencing him to a life sentence. Convicted by a jury on August 5, 2009 of 11 criminal corruption charges, charges that included the crimes of bribery, money laundering and racketeering, the former 2d Congressional District Congressman who once represented much of New Orleans, has finally stopped free falling and is now facing spending much of the remainder of his life behind prison bars. Jefferson’s defense attorneys, who had hoped their client’s sentence would be less than 10 years, have said they will appeal his conviction. William J. Jefferson began his public service to his New Orleans constituents in 1979 as an elected state senator, in his senatorial victory, Jefferson had become the first Black to be elected to the Louisiana Senate since Reconstruction. To political analysts, Jefferson was an undeniable raising star in Louisiana politics. Infamously redefining the colloquial term of cold cash, federal investigators found over $100,000 stashed in boxes of veggie burgers that were hidden in Jeffersons homes freezer.The former 9 term Congressman who served from 1991 to 2009 had planned according to prosecutors, to use the money in order to bribe the vice president of Nigeria who was at the time, in Washington D.C. – Jefferson had hoped the money would help pave the way for a telecommunications deal that would have been lucrative for the congressman’s family, prosecutors said.The investigation into Jeffersons suspected illegal activities began in mid-2005, after an investor alleged $400,000 in bribes were paid through a company maintained in the name of Jefferson’s spouse and children. The money came from a tech company named iGate, Inc., of Louisville, Kentucky, and in return, it is alleged, Jefferson would help iGate’s business. Jefferson was to persuade the U.S. Army to test iGate’s broadband two-way technology and other iGate products; use his efforts to influence high-ranking officials in Nigeria, Ghana, and Cameroon; and meet with personnel of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, in order to facilitate potential financing for iGate business deals in those countries.William Jennings Jefferson was born on March 14, 1947, in Lake Providence, Louisiana. Jefferson grew up in poverty in a family of 10 children in the far northeastern part of the state. In 1969, he graduated from Southern University Agricultural and Mechanical College with a B.A. degree. Three years later, on scholarship, he earned a J.D. from Harvard Law School. In 1996, Jefferson earned a Master of Laws in taxation from Georgetown University. After law school, he served for a year as a law clerk for veteran U.S. District Court Judge Alvin B. Rubin in New Orleans. From 1973 to 1975, Jefferson then served as a legislative assistant to Senator J. Bennett Johnston of Louisiana.Jefferson twice unsuccessfully ran for New Orleans mayor, first challenging Dutch Morial in the election of 1982, and then being defeated by Sidney Barthelemy in the mayoral runoff of 1986. During the 1982 mayoral race, Morial attacked Jefferson by calling him “Dollar Bill” a nickname which has stuck to this day.Jefferson is married to Andrea Jefferson. Together they have five daughters: Jamila Jefferson-Jones, Jalila Jefferson-Bullock – a former Louisiana State Representative – , Jelani Jefferson Exum – a professor of law at the University of Kansas – , Nailah Jefferson – a documentary filmmaker – , and Akilah Jefferson.As always Louisianans, the Examiner.Com is interested in what you think. Has Americans for the most part given up on finding a politician that best represents their best interests and not the best interests of the politician? Should the former congressman do the full 13 years in prison? And will this conviction “scare straight” current politicians who accept lobbyists big bucks? Inquiring minds want to know. Sound off.Until next time Louisianans, Good Day, God Bless and Good Fishing.

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