Racketeering

James Traficant, the former Democratic Congressman from Ohio who had been convicted of bribery and racketeering and who served seven years in prison before being released last year, has new career plans: he is going to run for Congress! Trafficant told CNN that although he has been a Democrat his whole life, “quite frankly I am disgusted with both parties” and he will be running as an independent. 

White collar criminal defense law continues to be a growth area in the legal marketplace, and we have some more proof of that: Bruce A. Barket, a high-profile defense attorney, has joined Long Island litigation boutique Quadrino Schwartz and will lead the firm's white collar defense group. Over his career, Barket has won numerous acquittals in high profile cases involving such crimes as securities/mail fraud and racketeering, among other matters.

Do you recall the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” list? It really exists – and it’s still around! It was first created in 1950 and it has had 493 fugitives on it at one time or another – 463 of whom have been apprehended or located.

We believe in forgiveness, redemption, and giving people a second (and sometimes a third or even a fourth) chance, but really, James Traficant? Former U.S. Congressman and convicted felon James Traficant? Kick-him-out-of-the-House-by-a-420-to-1-vote James Traficant? Racketeering-and-bribery James Traficant?

After hearing evidence for more than one month in a federal court in Alexandria, Va., a jury found Former Congressman William J. Jefferson guilty on 11 charged counts, including solicitation of bribes, honest services wire fraud, money laundering, racketeering and conspiracy.  Jefferson was acquitted on three counts of honest services wire fraud, an obstruction of justice charge and of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.  U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III accepted the verdict and scheduled sentencing for Oct.