More documents have been unsealed in the Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA) investigation. An affidavit in support of a search warrant to search the Nigerian Vice President's house in Potomac, Maryland shows that the FBI was more closely involved in the Jefferson case than just the use of a confidential informant in the investigation.

Deep in the document the affidavit discloses that the FBI used an undercover agent to drive Rep. Jefferson and Mody to the home of the Nigerian Vice President on July 18, 2005. The affidavit states, "The FBI special agent who drove Jefferson and CW to the home of the wife of the Nigerian Vice President on July 18, 2005 has reported that he observed a surveillance camera located on the premises located at 9731 Sorrel Ave. Potomac Maryland."

The affidavit alleges that former Jefferson aide Brett Pfeffer asked Rep. Jefferson to suggest investments for his boss, Lori Mody, and lays out numerous contacts between the three of them and their apparent attempts to steer business deals with the influence of the Nigerian Vice President. 

Days after visiting the house of the Nigerian Vice President later on July 30, 2005 Jefferson allegedly accepted $100,000 from Mody.  On August 3, the FBI executed search warrants on his house and at the Nigerian Vice President's house. During the August 3 search, federal investigators found $90,000 in cash in the freezer at Jefferson's Washington home.

According to the affidavit, in an August 1 conversation between Mody and Jefferson, Rep. Jefferson makes reference to giving the Nigerian Vice President "African art." The FBI agent who wrote the affidavit believes that phrase was a code word for cold hard cash: "Jefferson went on to say he had given 'this art thing' to the Vice President on Saturday at midnight (July 30/31, 2005) [Confidential Witness] has not given Jefferson African Art to be delivered to the Vice President. I believe when referring to 'African Art' or 'art' Jefferson is referring in cryptic fashion to the $100,000 cash he received from CW on July 20, 2005 with the understanding that he would deliver it to the Nigerian Vice President.

Mody is identified in the affidavit as the confidential witness that originally tipped off the FBI because the deal with Jefferson was going sour. Jefferson introduced Pfeffer to officers and executives at iGate which planned to enter the African telecommunications business in Nigeria and other countries. 

Pfeffer pleaded guilty to bribing public officials early this year and was sentenced to eight years in prison late last month. Much of the other background and investigative allegations in the affidavit seem to be similar.

The warrant for the Nigerian Vice President's house search seeks cash at the house in $100 dollar denominations or greater, a new reddish briefcase and records relating to iGate, Rosecom.net, NDTV and other companies that Jefferson has been alleged to be connected to. It also seeks security camera footage recordings from the house.

According to court documents, the search sought records relating to communications from the Vice President of Nigeria H.E. Alhaji to Rep. William Jefferson from January 2001. The affidavit says the communications and correspondence relates to Jefferson "regarding the proposed business venture in Nigeria by business venture participants Rosecom.net…and iGate."

The warrant also seeks a June 21, 2005 letter to the Nigerian Vice President from Jefferson. The affidavit alleges that Jefferson was attempting to elicit payments for himself and sought to steer as much as $500,000 to Nigerian Vice President Alhaji. It is unclear if any money ever reached the Nigerian Vice President.

A copy of the search warrant return for the search of Jefferson's New Orleans home has also been unsealed by the court in New Orleans.