Dec. 1 (UPI) -- A federal judge in Virginia approved a plea deal for former U.S. Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., sentencing him to time served for corruption charges Friday.
The arrangement came after U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis in October tossed seven of the charges for which Jefferson was convicted in 2009, leaving three intact. One other conviction was removed in 2016.
Jefferson was released from prison in October after serving five years of a 13-year sentence.
The 70-year-old said he was "grateful," speaking to reporters outside the courthouse in Alexandria.
Under the terms of the deal, Jefferson must check in with a probation officer once a month for 12 months.
Jefferson was convicted in 2009 after prosecutors argued he used his position to seek payments to promote the interests of African businesses in the United States. Investigators found $90,000 in case in the refrigerator of Jefferson's New Orleans home.
Ellis ruled it was hard to determine that Jefferson's actions in exchange for the cash constituted an "official act."
Jefferson served nine terms in Congress prior to his conviction. His sentence was the longest one ever handed down to a congressman.
Jefferson said he was looking forward to returning to his life in New Orleans.
