7. William Jefferson

The former Democratic congressman had already been forced out of office at the start of 2009, so with less to lose than a sitting politician, he didn’t quite make the top tier of this list. But 2009 sealed Jefferson’s fate as a corruption politician. Jefferson, who formerly represented Louisiana’s 2nd Congressional District, was convicted on corruption charges in April, and will be forever known as the congressman who hid cash in his freezer.

Next — 6. Chris Dodd