Former Louisiana Congressman William Jefferson was found guilty Wednesday of taking bribes. A Federal jury convicted the New Orleans Democrat on 11 of 16 counts in a case in which FBI agents found $90,000 in his freezer. The former Congressman was accused of accepting more than $400,000 in bribes and seeking millions more in exchange for brokering business deals in West Africa.

His defense team argued that Congressman Jefferson was acting as a private business consultant in brokering the deals and that his actions did not constitute bribery under Federal law. Prosecutors, in turn, accused Jefferson of hiding bribes by funneling money disguised as consulting fees through sham companies controlled by his wife and brother. In a separate case,  Brenda Jefferson, the youngest sister of embattled Congressman, pleaded guilty in June 2008 to concealing her knowledge of a conspiracy to skim money from nonprofit groups controlled by relatives. It was a family affair.

More from the New Orleans Times-Picayune:

Jefferson faces sentencing Oct. 30 by Judge T.S. Ellis III, who earlier meted out stiff sentences for lesser figures in the case. According to the U.S. attorney's office, Jefferson faced 235 years in prison if convicted on all counts. Chief prosecutor Mark Lytle said Jefferson could face more than 20 years in prison under federal sentencing guidelines.

With Jefferson, 62, facing what could be the equivalent of a life sentence, prosecutors asked Ellis to remand him to jail as a flight risk. But the judge allowed him to remain free pending his sentencing. A forfeiture hearing will be held Thursday to decide what assets Jefferson will have to surrender.

In a post-verdict news conference, Jefferson referred all questions to his attorney Robert Trout. When asked how he was holding up, the former congressman said, "I'm holding up."

Trout said he was very disappointed in the verdict and did not believe that the government had proved its case. He said he was planning to file an appeal.

William Jefferson represents much of what is wrong with politics today. These individuals seek public office not to serve the public interest but in the cause of their own self-aggrandizement and self-enrichment. A life sentence seems wholly warranted.

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Various sources are reporting that an announcement will be made that Louisiana Congressman William Jefferson has been indicted on a dozen corruption charges in the U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia. The announcement is expected this afternoon.

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