Watch CBS News

Jacksons Spent Tens Of Thousands On TVs, Furs, Elk Heads, More

(CBS) -- In court documents filed as part of former Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr.'s guilty plea to charges of misusing $750,000 in campaign funds for personal expenses, federal prosecutors detailed only a portion of the illicit expenses Jackson and his wife, Sandi, made using campaign cash and campaign credit cards.

In one instance, Jesse Jr. directed "Person A" to buy two stuffed and mounted elk heads from a Montana taxidermist, using campaign funds, spending a total of more than $7,000. A few months later, Sandi Jackson had Person A sell the elk heads for cash to a person who turned out to be an undercover FBI employee.

From October 2008 through September 2011, Jesse Jr. also directed Person A to write him or herself checks from the campaign fund, then used the money to pay for renovations to the Jackson home in D.C., according to the plea deal. In all, the Jacksons spent $26,347.34 on contractors at their D.C. home in this manner.

Memorabilia Store Owner On Jackson

Jackson also spent $32,000 on memorabilia from a store called Antiquities of Nevada. Owner Toby Stoffa told WBBM Newsradio's Steve Miller that Jackson visited the Las Vegas store several times.

"He had good taste on things that he liked, but he never overdid, really. He was just excited about finding a treasure," she said.

Jackson purchased memorabilia related to martial artist Bruce Lee; civil rights leaders Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X; rock star Jimi Hendrix; and the "King of Pop," Michael Jackson.

"Michael Jackson was always a very good client of mine for 12 years, and that Jesse liked Michael was nice to hear," Stoffa said. "So we had some things in common to talk about."

Stoffa said she was surprised and sad to hear about Jackson's troubles with the law and she wishes him the best.

According to court documents, purchases the Jacksons made using campaign cash or credit cards included:

  • A $43,500 Rolex watch bought in July 2007;
  • $14,442.83 in campaign cash used to pay off personal credit cards;
  • $2,200 in car repairs in September 2005;
  • $4,272 for a cruise in June 2006;
  • $2,306 for Disney World in March 2007;
  • $10,997 spent on Blu-Ray DVD players, flat-screen TVs, and DVDs at Best Buy in November 2007;
  • $313.89 for stuffed animals from Build-a-Bear around Christmastime 2007 and 2008;
  • Nearly $32,000 in memorabilia related to Bruce Lee, Michael Jackson, Jimi Hendrix, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and various American presidents from Antiquities of Nevada, between June 2008 and March 2010;
  • More than $9,500 for children's furniture in July 2008;
  • $15,120 for home appliances at ABT Electronics  in August 2008;
  • $3,544 for dresses, jewelry, shoes, and accessories from Mariel's Boutique in August 2008;
  • $435.62 at Ticketmaster in July and October 2008;
  • $5,687.75 for a five-day health retreat for a relative of Sandi Jackson's at Martha's Vineyard Holistic Retreat in November 2008;
  • $1,908.32 on video games, underwear, cleaning supplies, toilet paper, toothpaste, soap, children's vitamins, and food from Costco between December 2008 and June 2010;
  • $5,150 for fur capes and parkas Sandi purchased at Edward Lowell Furrier in November 2009;
  • $60,857 on restaurants, nightclubs and lounges;
  • $31,700.79 on airfare;
  • $16,058.91 on sports clubs and gym memberships;
  • $17,163.36 at tobacco shops;
  • $5,814.43 on alcohol;
  • $14,513.42 on dry cleaning;
  • $8,046.44 on groceries;
  • $6,095.15 at drug stores;
  • $6,400 for private school in Chicago.

In all, according to the plea deal, the Jacksons made 3,100 purchases on campaign credit cards for personal expenses, totaling $582,772.58.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.