A day after bribery conviction, jury rules ex-congressman Jefferson must forfeit $470,000

Jury rules ex-congressman must forfeit $470,000

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A federal jury has ruled that a former Louisiana congressman must forfeit roughly $470,000 in bribery receipts.

Thursday’s ruling comes a day after Democrat William Jefferson was convicted on 11 counts, including bribery, for using his influence to broker business deals in Africa.

The jury returned to consider the technical question of whether he would be required to forfeit any funds he received.

Jefferson will be sentenced Oct. 30. Prosecutors say federal sentencing guidelines could call for more than 20 years in prison. It will also be up to a judge to impose any financial penalties.

Jefferson represented parts of New Orleans for almost 20 years. His conviction came a little more than four years after the FBI found $90,000 cash hidden in the freezer of his Washington home.