Son of civil rights leader, Jesse Jackson Jr and his wife have been sentenced to jail after former Illinois representative pleaded guilty to criminal charge back in February.
Former representative Jesse Jackson Jr was sentenced to two and a
half years in prison Wednesday after pleading guilty to scheming to
spend $750,000 in campaign funds on televisions, restaurant dinners, an
expensive watch and other costly personal items. His wife received a
sentence of one year.
He had been a Democratic congressman from Illinois from 1995 until he resigned last November. In an emotional speech to the judge during which he became choked up and used tissues to blow his nose, he apologized and said he wanted to "take responsibility for my actions."
"I misled the American people," he said.
According to court papers in the case, Jackson used campaign money to buy items including a $43,350 gold-plated men's Rolex watch.
He admitted that he and his wife used campaign credit cards to buy 3,100 personal items worth $582,772 from 2005 through April of last year — including $60,857 for personal expenditures at restaurants, nightclubs and lounges; $16,058 for personal expenditures at sports clubs and lounges; $5,814 for alcohol and $14,513 for dry cleaning.
Individual campaign credit card purchases included a $466 dinner for two of "a personal nature" at a restaurant; a washer, dryer, range and refrigerator for the Jacksons' Chicago home; multiple flat-screen televisions, Blu-Ray DVD players and DVDs for their Washington, DC, home; and a five-day health retreat for one of Mrs Jackson's relatives.
U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson said that as a public official Jackson was expected to "live up to a higher standard of ethics and integrity." After prison, he is to spend three years on supervised release and complete 500 hours of community service.
Jackson's wife, Sandra Jackson, was sentenced Wednesday to a year in prison for filing joint federal income tax returns that understated the couple's income. She was a Chicago alderman before she resigned this year during the federal investigation of the couple. She spent $5,150 in campaign funds on fur capes and parkas, court documents show.
She will serve her sentence after her husband gets out of prison. The couple, who have two children, 13 and 9, asked to serve at separate times.
Jackson told another judge when he entered his plea that "for years I lived in my campaign."
On Wednesday, Jackson asked that his family, in particular his son and daughter, not suffer because of his actions. He said he hoped his wife would get probation and that if that wasn't available he could serve her sentence for her.
"Give me her time," he said.
Jackson also asked to serve his time in Alabama, saying, "I wanted to make it a little inconvenient for everybody to get to me."
It was noted that his mental health might worsen under the stress of incarceration, as he has been treated for depression and bipolar disorder.
US Attorney Ronald Machen has said the government could have come up with more serious charges against her than filing false joint federal income tax returns, but used discretion because the Jacksons have children.
He had been a Democratic congressman from Illinois from 1995 until he resigned last November. In an emotional speech to the judge during which he became choked up and used tissues to blow his nose, he apologized and said he wanted to "take responsibility for my actions."
"I misled the American people," he said.
According to court papers in the case, Jackson used campaign money to buy items including a $43,350 gold-plated men's Rolex watch.
He admitted that he and his wife used campaign credit cards to buy 3,100 personal items worth $582,772 from 2005 through April of last year — including $60,857 for personal expenditures at restaurants, nightclubs and lounges; $16,058 for personal expenditures at sports clubs and lounges; $5,814 for alcohol and $14,513 for dry cleaning.
Individual campaign credit card purchases included a $466 dinner for two of "a personal nature" at a restaurant; a washer, dryer, range and refrigerator for the Jacksons' Chicago home; multiple flat-screen televisions, Blu-Ray DVD players and DVDs for their Washington, DC, home; and a five-day health retreat for one of Mrs Jackson's relatives.
U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson said that as a public official Jackson was expected to "live up to a higher standard of ethics and integrity." After prison, he is to spend three years on supervised release and complete 500 hours of community service.
Jackson's wife, Sandra Jackson, was sentenced Wednesday to a year in prison for filing joint federal income tax returns that understated the couple's income. She was a Chicago alderman before she resigned this year during the federal investigation of the couple. She spent $5,150 in campaign funds on fur capes and parkas, court documents show.
She will serve her sentence after her husband gets out of prison. The couple, who have two children, 13 and 9, asked to serve at separate times.
Jackson told another judge when he entered his plea that "for years I lived in my campaign."
On Wednesday, Jackson asked that his family, in particular his son and daughter, not suffer because of his actions. He said he hoped his wife would get probation and that if that wasn't available he could serve her sentence for her.
"Give me her time," he said.
Jackson also asked to serve his time in Alabama, saying, "I wanted to make it a little inconvenient for everybody to get to me."
It was noted that his mental health might worsen under the stress of incarceration, as he has been treated for depression and bipolar disorder.
US Attorney Ronald Machen has said the government could have come up with more serious charges against her than filing false joint federal income tax returns, but used discretion because the Jacksons have children.
They r going to prison for using campaign money on personal thngs. Pls guys relate ds to naija. When shall we say enough is enough in naija? When will people pay for their crimes committed?
ReplyDeleteIf it were all pulic office holders wl rot in jail
ReplyDelete*naija
ReplyDeleteIn naija were politicians loot billions and buy villas for their mistresses in europe....
ReplyDeleteThis is an example of where people are held accountable for their actions and the penal system works. Until this can be obtained in Nigeria,weare simply wasting our time.
ReplyDelete