Angela Coleman
Encyclopedia
Angela Coleman daughter of New Orleans Fourth Municipal District Assessor
Betty Jefferson
, was one of four individuals indicted in 2009 by federal grand jury
for the U.S. Justice Department's Eastern District of Louisiana. The charges on violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act were also directed against Betty Jefferson, Mose Jefferson
, and Mose Jefferson's companion Renée Gill Pratt
.
Brenda Jefferson Foster
, a younger sister of convicted felon William J. Jefferson
, had pleaded guilty to a minor charge in the same racketeering case. She agreed to a plea-bargain exchange by which she would testify against the others. On 2009 June 5 all the remaining defendants pleaded not guilty.
In all, according to New Orleans U.S. attorney Jim Letten
, the charges involve 31 felony counts. These do not overlap the 16 felony counts alleged against Angela Coleman's uncle, former U.S. Representative William J. Jefferson
.
At a hearing before U. S. District Judge Ivan L. R. Lemelle
on 2009 June 17, lawyers for Betty Jefferson and Angela Coleman requested a delay from the 2009 August 3 start date for the racketeering trial; at the same hearing, however, lawyers for Gill Pratt and Mose Jefferson requested that the racketeering trial begin as scheduled on August 3. On 2009 July 28, Lemelle delayed the start of the racketeering trial to 2010 January 25.
If proved, the charges—raised under provisions of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act—can result in up to 20 years' imprisonment, $250,000 in fines, and stiff penalties of forfeiture. Some of the charges involved fraudulent use of e-mail.
Assessor (property)
An assessor is a specialist who calculates the value of property. The value calculated by the assessor is then used as the basis for determining the amounts to be paid or assessed for tax or insurance purposes....
Betty Jefferson
Betty Jefferson
Barbara "Betty" Jefferson Jackson is the elected assessor of New Orleans' Fourth Municipal District; she was first elected on 1998 February 7 and was reelected in 2002 and 2006. Before her political career in New Orleans she lived for a number of years in Chicago. She is an older sister of...
, was one of four individuals indicted in 2009 by federal grand jury
Grand jury
A grand jury is a type of jury that determines whether a criminal indictment will issue. Currently, only the United States retains grand juries, although some other common law jurisdictions formerly employed them, and most other jurisdictions employ some other type of preliminary hearing...
for the U.S. Justice Department's Eastern District of Louisiana. The charges on violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act were also directed against Betty Jefferson, Mose Jefferson
Mose Jefferson
Mose Oliver Jefferson was a member of the New Orleans family that includes his younger brother, convicted felon and former U.S. Representative William J. Jefferson...
, and Mose Jefferson's companion Renée Gill Pratt
Renée Gill Pratt
Renée Gill Pratt is a local politician from New Orleans. She was also Director of the Center for Student Retention and Success in Southern University at New Orleans...
.
Brenda Jefferson Foster
Brenda Jefferson Foster
Brenda Jefferson Foster was a witness for the prosecution in the 2008-2009 trials of her older siblings Betty Jefferson and Mose Jefferson, Betty Jefferson's daughter Angela Coleman, and Mose Jefferson's companion former City Councilwoman Renée Gill Pratt.Brenda Jefferson Foster had originally...
, a younger sister of convicted felon William J. Jefferson
William J. Jefferson
William Jennings "Bill" Jefferson is a former American politician, and a published author from the U.S. state of Louisiana. He served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for nine terms from 1991 to 2009 as a member of the Democratic Party. He represented , which includes much of the...
, had pleaded guilty to a minor charge in the same racketeering case. She agreed to a plea-bargain exchange by which she would testify against the others. On 2009 June 5 all the remaining defendants pleaded not guilty.
In all, according to New Orleans U.S. attorney Jim Letten
Jim Letten
-U.S. Attorney in New Orleans:After finishing his law degree at the Tulane University School of Law, Letten worked for Orleans Parish District Attorney Harry Connick, Sr. for four years and then began his career as a prosecutor for the U.S. Department of Justice...
, the charges involve 31 felony counts. These do not overlap the 16 felony counts alleged against Angela Coleman's uncle, former U.S. Representative William J. Jefferson
William J. Jefferson
William Jennings "Bill" Jefferson is a former American politician, and a published author from the U.S. state of Louisiana. He served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for nine terms from 1991 to 2009 as a member of the Democratic Party. He represented , which includes much of the...
.
At a hearing before U. S. District Judge Ivan L. R. Lemelle
Ivan L. R. Lemelle
Ivan L. R. Lemelle is a United States federal judge.Born in Opelousas, Louisiana, Lemelle received a B.S. from Xavier University of Louisiana in 1971 and a J.D. from Loyola University New Orleans School of Law in 1974. He was a law clerk for Robert Collins of the Orleans Parish Criminal District...
on 2009 June 17, lawyers for Betty Jefferson and Angela Coleman requested a delay from the 2009 August 3 start date for the racketeering trial; at the same hearing, however, lawyers for Gill Pratt and Mose Jefferson requested that the racketeering trial begin as scheduled on August 3. On 2009 July 28, Lemelle delayed the start of the racketeering trial to 2010 January 25.
If proved, the charges—raised under provisions of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act—can result in up to 20 years' imprisonment, $250,000 in fines, and stiff penalties of forfeiture. Some of the charges involved fraudulent use of e-mail.