April 3, 2008

Mose Jefferson indicted on multiple corruption charges

Brother of indicted Congressman William Jefferson

The brother of indicted Congressman William Jefferson has also been indicted for bribery and money laundering, stemming from payoffs allegedly made to a former president of the New Orleans school board.

William Jefferson, though still in Congress, was indicted last year on 16 counts involving corruption.

NEW ORLEANS -- The brother of embattled U.S. Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., has been indicted for bribery, the Justice Department said Wednesday.

Mose Jefferson, 65, of New Orleans was indicted on seven counts related to bribery and money laundering in connection with a program receiving federal funds.

The federal indictment in New Orleans said Mose Jefferson paid former Orleans Parish School Board member Ellenese Brooks-Simms $140,000 for her support and approval of two school board contracts involving the lease of an educational software system.

Mose Jefferson was the sales agent for the software system and was paid more than $913,000 in sales commissions for getting contracts with the school board.

Brooks-Simms, her daughter Stacy Simms and Burnell Moliere -- a local businessman used as a conduit for the bribe -- have entered felony guilty pleas in U. S. District Court.

William Jefferson, though still in Congress, was indicted last year on 16 counts involving corruption.

The U.S. Supreme Court, ruling in Jefferson's case last month, refused to review a lower-court ruling that limits law enforcement searches of U.S. Senate and House offices.

The FBI raided Jefferson's Capitol Hill office and seized documents in May 2006, bringing protests from both sides of the political aisle.