In the Nation

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Former Rep. William Jefferson, who famously stashed $90,000 in cash in his freezer, was sentenced in federal court yesterday to 13 years in prison for taking hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for using his influence to broker business deals in Africa.

Jefferson, a Louisiana Democrat, represented parts of New Orleans for nearly 20 years before he was indicted and lost reelection last year. He was convicted in August of 11 counts, including bribery and racketeering. Prosecutors at his two-month trial said he took $500,000 in bribes and sought millions more.

He was acquitted of five charges, including one most closely associated with the money in his freezer, which came from a disgruntled businesswoman, Lori Mody, who agreed to wear a wire after telling the FBI she was cheated out of $3.5 million in deals brokered by Jefferson. - AP

WASHINGTON - Investigators trying to solve the death of a census taker found hanging from a tree with the word "Fed" scrawled on his chest are examining whether he manipulated the scene to conceal a suicide and make a life-insurance claim possible for his son, law enforcement officials said.

The son, Josh Sparkman, 20, told the AP he found the private life-insurance policy in the personal files of his father, Bill Sparkman, 51, but wasn't sure of the amount or when it was taken out.

Two law enforcement officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said investigators were trying to determine whether Bill Sparkman, who was found Sept. 12 in a wooded area of southeastern Kentucky, committed suicide. Life-insurance policies typically do not cover suicides within a certain time period after the policy begins.

"The money is not the concern. I just want to know what happened to my dad," the son said. - AP

FORT COLLINS, Colo. - A Colorado couple who reported their son was aboard a runaway balloon could land in jail after pleading guilty yesterday to charges they made up the story to generate publicity for a possible reality-TV show.

Richard Heene appeared before a Larimer County District Court judge first, pleading guilty to a felony count of falsely influencing the sheriff who led the rescue effort during the 50-mile balloon chase that captivated a global television audience Oct. 15.

Mayumi Heene pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of knowingly filing a false report with emergency services. The lesser charge protected the Japanese citizen from being deported.

Prosecutors said she had a lower level of culpability and cooperated with authorities, telling investigators the balloon launch was a publicity stunt two weeks in the making. - AP