Former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. and his wife Sandra are looking at possible prison time after the pair pleaded guilty yesterday to criminal conspiracy, making false statements, mail fraud, and wire fraud, according to ABC News.
Allegedly, the Jacksons were caught in a scheme wherein they were spending approximately $750,000 in campaign funds for their own personal use.
According to reports, those personal items purchased by the Jacksons included “furs, a gold watch, a football signed by U.S. presidents and even a hat once owned by Michael Jackson.”
Jeff Cramer, assistant U.S. attorney in Chicago experienced in corruption cases said:
"It shows hubris and arrogance that a politician sees his campaign coffers as his to spend as likes."
"With these kinds of charges, I cannot imagine him not going to prison ... for 3 1/2 or 4 1/2 years."
Cramer went on to say that Jackson’s wife Sandra could likely get a break on her jail time due to the fact that the couple has school-aged children at home.
Cramer’s educated guess is that although Mrs. Jackson would spend several months behind bars, her sentence would most likely not run consecutively with her husband’s so that the couple wouldn’t both be away from their kids at the same time.
In a statement released by the former congressman’s lawyers, Jesse Jackson Jr. stated:
"I offer no excuses for my conduct, and I fully accept my responsibility for the improper decisions and mistakes I have made."
"I want to offer my sincerest apologies ... it is my hope that I am remembered for things that I did right."
Jesse Jackson Jr. is the son of activist, former presidential candidate, and famed civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson.
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