Prosecutors seek $478K from Jefferson

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Oct. 26 (UPI) -- The U.S. government says former Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., owes it $478,153 in restitution despite his bankruptcy filing.

Documents filed last week with the U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Va. -- where Jefferson was convicted on 11 counts of official corruption this year -- disclosed that prosecutors have asked Judge T.S. Ellis III to disregard the disgraced congressman's bankruptcy filing because it runs counter to an earlier order freezing his assets, The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune reported Monday.

"In effect, defendant Jefferson's filing of the bankruptcy petition could be viewed as an attempt to violate this court's prior restraining order enjoining him from taking any actions affecting his interests in those assets," chief Jefferson prosecutor Mark Lytle wrote in the petition.

Jefferson and his wife Andrea have declared monthly income that would translate into more than $371,000 per year, the newspaper said.

Ellis has reportedly set a Nov. 13 sentencing for Jefferson, when prosecutors are expected to seek at least 20 years in prison for the ex-lawmaker.