SAO PAULO—Brazil's Supreme court on Wednesday sentenced the last
three of 25 defendants convicted on charges involving a
congressional cash-for-votes scheme, bringing to an end a high-
profile corruption trial that has riveted Latin America's
largest country for nearly four months.  The court sentenced a
former congressman, a former leader of the governing Workers'
Party and a former treasurer of the Brazilian Labor Party on
charges of money laundering, embezzlement and passive
corruption.  The alleged corruption dates back to the government
of Brazil's hugely popular former President Luiz Inacio Lula da
Silva, who was not charged. After two 4-year terms, Silva left
office Jan. 1, 2011, with an 87 percent approval rating in
opinion polls and remains a powerful political force in Brazil
Earlier this month the court convicted Silva's once powerful
former chief of staff, Jose Dirceu of racketeering and of
leading the vote-buying scheme in Congress. He was sentenced to
10 years and 10 months in prison. Dirceu, wh