Jesse Jackson Jr. Under Home Confinement in D.C.

By Hannah Hess

Posted June 22, 2015 at 5:33pm

Former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. is one step closer to freedom from the federal penitentiary system.

On Monday morning, the Illinois Democrat arrived home at his Dupont Circle home to serve the remainder of a 30-month sentence for defrauding his campaign. Jackson, 50, sported an ankle bracelet tracking device, and reportedly arrived in a SUV arranged by his father, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, with no other family members. Three months earlier, Jackson entered a privately run halfway house in Baltimore, where he was monitored, placed under a curfew and required to look for a job — while working on a memoir about his journey from Congress to convicted felon. Jackson pleaded guilty to stealing roughly $750,000 of his own campaign funds, and illegally spending it on a wide array of purchases. The goods ranged from mundane personal items — food, clothing and toothpaste — to more exorbitant items, including a collection of fur coats and capes. The case revealed Jackson purchased a $43,000 Rolex watch and more than $38,000 worth of memorabilia related to Michael Jackson and Bruce Lee.

Jackson’s wife, Sandi, will head to prison to start serving a 12-month sentence for her role in the scheme. After she pleaded guilty to filing false income tax returns, the judge showed some mercy by staggering the sentences so at least one parent could remain home with the couple’s children. The former congressman’s release date from home confinement is pegged for late September.