Federal prosecutors are digging deeper into a bribery scandal
by Frank Donze - Times-Picayune (excerpt)

In a clear sign that federal prosecutors are digging deeper into a bribery scandal at the Orleans Parish School Board, Mose Jefferson -- the eldest brother of indicted U.S. Rep. William Jefferson and the congressman's chief political strategist -- was summoned, along with two School Board members, to a grand jury Wednesday.

Also appearing at the Hale Boggs Federal Building on Poydras Street was former New Orleans City Councilwoman Renee Gill Pratt, Mose Jefferson's longtime companion.

Two School Board members, Jimmy Fahrenholtz and Una Anderson, were unaccompanied by attorneys and said they were told by the U.S. attorney's office that they are not being investigated.

Anderson and Fahrenholtz served on the board with Ellenese Brooks-Simms, who last week pleaded guilty to accepting $140,000 in bribes from an unidentified businessman to help secure a lucrative contract for JRL Enterprises, a computer-based education company. Sources close to the case have identified the businessman as Mose Jefferson.

Mose Jefferson received $900,000 in commissions from JRL for acting as the company's liaison to the School Board, according to court records. Brooks-Simms has told investigators that the bribes she took from Mose Jefferson were routed through an intermediary.