William J. Jefferson

A Representative from Louisiana. Born in Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La. , March 14, 1947. G. W. Griffin High School, Lake Providence, La. B. A. , Southern University and Agricultural &. Mechanical College, Baton Rouge, La. , 1969. J. D. , Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass. , 1972. United States Army, c. 1969-1975. Lawyer, private practice. Law clerk for United States District Judge Alvin B. Rubin, Eastern District of Louisiana, 1972-1973. Staff, United States Senator J. Bennett Johnston of Louisiana, 1973-1975. Member of the Louisiana state senate, 1979-1990. Candidate for Mayor of New Orleans in 1982 and 1986. Elected as a Democrat to the One Hundred Second and to the eight succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1991-January 3, 2009). Unsuccessful candidate for reelection to the One Hundred Eleventh Congress in 2008. Convicted on November 13, 2009, of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, conspiracy to solicit bribes, solicitation of bribes, honest services wire fraud, money laundering, and racketeering. Sentenced to federal prison. Convictions for solicitation of bribes, honest services wire fraud, money laundering, and racketeering vacated on December 1, 2017.