Jury convicts ex-La. congressman’s brother on 4 counts, including bribery, acquits on 3 counts

Ex-La. congressman’s brother convicted of bribery

NEW ORLEANS — A federal jury has convicted New Orleans political operative Mose Jefferson of bribery charges less than a month after his brother, a former Louisiana congressman, was found guilty of unrelated corruption charges.

The jury of six men and six women on Friday convicted Jefferson of two counts each of bribery and obstruction of justice for paying $100,000 in kickbacks to former New Orleans school board president Ellenese Brooks-Simms.

But jurors acquitted him of three charges, including one count each of bribery, conspiracy to commit bribery and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

His brother, former Rep. William Jefferson, was convicted Aug. 5 of charges that included bribery, racketeering and money laundering.