List of American state and local politicians convicted of crimes
This list includes American state and local politicians convicted of crimes while in office.
Convicted politicians include governors, secretaries, comptrollers, state senators and state representatives, their close staff and appointees. Private citizens, businessmen and family are included only as they relate to the crime.
The list does not include scandals, accusations, arrests or indictments that did not lead to convictions. Also excluded are crimes which occur outside the politician’s tenure in office unless they specifically stem from acts during his time of service.
Entries are arranged by date, from most current to less recent, and by state.
This is an incomplete list, which may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.
2010–[edit]
Alabama[edit]
State Representative Terry Spicer (D) pled guilty to accepting more than $3000 per month in bribes. (2011)[1]
Arizona[edit]
State Representative Richard Miranda(D) resigned from the legislature in February 2012 citing family and health reasons. In March he pled quilty to wire fraud and tax evasion.[2]
Arkansas[edit]
State Representative Hudson Hallum(D) pleaded guilty to voter bribing. (2012)[3]
California[edit]
State Senator Roy Ashburn (R) of Bakersfield was arrested on two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol. He was sentenced to two days in jail and three years probation. (2010)[4][5]
Colorado[edit]
State Representative Douglas Bruce(R), In 2011, Douglas Bruce was convicted on four counts of felony criminal activity including, money laundering, attempted improper influence of a public official, and tax fraud. He was sentenced on February 13, 2012 to a total of 180 days in jail, $49,000 in fines, and six months of probation which included extensive disclosure requirements.[6][7]
Connecticut[edit]
State Senator Thomas Gaffey (D), On January 3, 2011 Gaffey was arrested for larceny.[8] He resolved the criminal charges by agreeing to plead guilty to a misdeameanor, resign his state senate seat effective January 5, 2011, and serve 100 hours of community service.
Mayor of Hartford, Connecticut Eddie Perez (D), was sentenced to eight years, suspended after three years, with three years in prison, to be followed by three years of probation for corruption. (2010)[9]
State Representative Brenda Kupchick, (R) was charged with assault in the third degree and disorderly conduct after a fight with her sister. (2013)[10][11]
House Speaker Christopher G. Donovan's (D) Campaign ManagerJoshua Nassi was arrested and Finance Director Robert Braddock, Jr. was sentenced to three years in an FBI investigation into campaign finance corruption. "You couldn’t force me to work in politics ever again," Braddock said. Donovan has not been charged. (2012)[12][13]
Florida[edit]
Florida Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, Jim Greer was sentenced to 18 months in prison plus one year of probation after pleading guilty to four counts of theft and one count of money laundering, admitting he stole some $200,000 of party donations.[14][15]
Georgia[edit]
State Senator Charles Walker a 63 year old Democrat from Augusta, was convicted of 127 felony charges related to various schemes. Walker paid $698,047 in restitution and another $200,000 in fines and court fees. July 13, 2013[16]
Local[edit]
Gwinnett County Commissioner Shirley Lasseter (R) resigned and pled guilty to bribery. (2012)[17]
Idaho[edit]
State Senator John McGee (R) was arrested on June 19, 2011 for grand theft auto and driving under the influence. At the time of arrest his blood alcohol content was reported at a .15, compared to the legal limit in the state of .08.[18] On July 1, 2011, McGee pled guilty to misdemeanor DUI. The felony theft and felony operation of a vehicle without consent charges were dropped. The court sentenced McGee to 180 days in jail, with all but five days suspended. He also served three days community service and pay fines and restitution.[19]
Illinois[edit]
State Representative Derrick Smith (D) was arrested for accepting a $7000 bribe. (2012)[20]
Local[edit]
Alderman of Chicago, Sandi Jackson(D) pled guilty to one count of filing false tax returns.[21]
Comptroller and Treasurer for DixonRita Crundwell was arrested for fraud after allegedly embezzling as much as $30 million over many years. The money was used to support a lavish lifestyle and support her horse ranch, the Meri-J.[22]
Indiana[edit]
Secretary of State Charlie White (R) was convicted of 6 of 7 felony charges including perjury, theft and voter fraud.[23][24]
Local[edit]
Mayor of East Chicago George Pabey(D) was convicted by a federal court jury on September 24, 2010 of conspiracy and theft of government funds. (2010) [36]
Kansas[edit]
Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline (R) had his law license suspended by the Kansas Supreme Court who cited “clear and convincing evidence” of professional misconduct. He was found to have violated 11 rules governing the professional conduct of attorneys during his tenure as the state’s highest law enforcement officer and while he served as Johnson County District Attorney.(2013) [25][26]
Maine[edit]
State Representative David R. Burns(R) Burns resigned his seat and pled guilty to misdemeanor forgery and theft charges and was sentenced to 6 months. (2012)[27][28]
Maine State Representative Frederick Wintle is a Republican who was arrested on May 21, 2011 for "pointing a handgun at a man at point-blank range in a Dunkin' Donuts parking lot". He pled guilty to a concealed weapons charge and resigned his position in September 13, 2011.[29][30][31][32]
Maryland[edit]
Local[edit]
Mayor of Baltimore Sheila Dixon (D) was convicted of fraudulent misappropriation and was sentenced to was sentenced to four years of probation. (2010)
Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D), On May 17, 2011, Johnson pleaded guilty to extortion and, witness and evidence tampering.[33] On December 6, 2011, Johnson was sentenced to seven years and three months in Butner federal prison in North Carolina. He was also fined $100,000.[34]
Prince George's County CouncillorLeslie Johnson (D), was sentenced to one year and one day in prison. (2011)[35]
Massachusetts[edit]
State Senator Anthony Gallucio (D) was given one year in prison after failing a sobriety test and violating his probation from a previous hit and run accident. (2010)[36]
Speaker of the House Salvatore DiMasi(D) was found guilty of using his position to secure multimillion-dollar state contracts for Cognos, a business intelligence software company, in exchange for kickbacks.[37] (2011)
State Representative Stephen Stat Smith (D) pled guilty to two misdemeanor counts of deprivation of rights under color of law for his role in a voter fraud scheme.[38]
Local[edit]
Boston Councillor Chuck Turner (Green Party) was expelled from the Boston City Council on December 1, 2010 following his conviction on federal bribery charges.[39]
Michigan[edit]
Local[edit]
Detroit City Council member Monica Conyers (D) pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit bribery[40] and served just over 27 months at theAlderson Federal Prison Camp in West Virginia.[41]
Mayor of Detroit Kwame Kilpatrick (D) was sentenced to 18 months to 5 years in prison for violating his probation in 2010. In 2013 he was sentenced to 28 years in prison for federal charges including racketeering and extortion.[42]
Justice of the Michigan Supreme CourtDiane Hathaway (D) was sentenced to 366 days in Prison for criminal mortgage fraud. (2013)
Mississippi[edit]
Judge Bobby DeLaughter (D) was made famous for finally convictingByron De La Beckwith in 1994 for the murder of civil rights leader Medgar Evers in 1963. DeLaughter pled guilty of one count of lying to the FBI and was sentenced to 18 months in prison.[43]
Missouri[edit]
Former Governor of Missouri Roger B. Wilson (D), on May 12, 2012, was fined $2,000 by the Missouri Ethics Commission.[44] In July he was sentenced to two years of probation on the money laundering charge.[45]
New Jersey[edit]
State Assemblyman and Mayor of Perth Amboy, New Jersey Joseph Vas (D) sentenced to 6 and a half years for federal corruption. (2011)[46]
New Hampshire[edit]
State Representative Gary Wheaton (R) resigned from the legislature after being arrested for speeding and driving on a suspended license, his second traffic arrest. Wheaton pleaded guilty to recklessly endangering the lives and safety of the public.[47][48]
New York[edit]
Comptroller Alan Hevesi (D), was convicted on charges surrounding a "pay to play" scheme regarding the New York State Pension Fund, and was sentenced to 1–4 years. (2011)
Minority Leader of the State SenateJohn L. Sampson (D), convicted ofembezzlement, obstruction of justiceand witness tampering.[49]
State Senator Shirley Huntley (D), convicted of mail fraud (2013)[50]
Majority Leader of the New York State Senate Pedro Espada Jr. (D) On May 14, 2012 a federal jury found Espada guilty of embezzling money from federally funded healthcare clinics, after 11 days of deliberation.[51]
State Senator Nicholas Spano (R), in 2012 Spano was indicted for pederal income tax evasion. Spano pleaded guilty to the single felony. He admitted that he underreported his income — $42,419 in federal income taxes and $10,605 in state taxes — from 2000 to 2008. He is to be sentenced to 12 to 18 months in federal prison in June 2012.
State Senator Carl Kruger (D) resigned his seat and pled guilty to charges of corruption and bribery. (2011)[52]
State Senator Kevin Parker (D), Parker was convicted of a misdemeanor charge, criminal mischief, and on March 21, 2011 was sentenced to three years probation and a $1,000 fine for attacking a New York Postphotographer and damaging the photographer's camera and car door.[53]
Local[edit]
President of the New York City councilAndrew Stein (D) was convicted of tax evasion regarding a Ponzi scheme in November 2010.[54]
New York City Council member Larry Seabrook (D) On February 9, 2010, a federal grand jury indicted Seabrook on 13 counts of money laundering, extortion, and fraud.[55] Seabrook was convicted on 9 charges in July 2012.[56]
North Carolina[edit]
Governor Mike Easley (D) was convicted of a federal campaign law felony in November 2010.[57]
State Representative Stephen LaRoque(R), an outspoken Republican from Kinston, was supposed to redirect loan monies from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to small business owners in rural areas with limited access to capital, instead he took $300,000 for himself. He was convicted on 12 counts including theft, money laundering and filing false tax returns. (2013)[58][59]
Ohio[edit]
State Representative W. Carlton Weddington (D) was convicted on bribery charges and sentenced to three years in prison. (2012)[60]
Oklahoma[edit]
President pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate Mike Morgan (D) as found guilty of accepting $12,000 in bribes in 2007.[61]
State Representative Randy Terrill (R-Moore) was found guilty of bribery in connection with the 2010 Oklahoma political corruption investigationconcerning the Office of the Oklahoma Chief Medical Examiner in which he bribed State Senator Debbie Leftwich(D-Oklahoma City) to give up her seat so State Representative Mike Christian(R-Oklahoma City) could run for it instead. Terrill was sentenced to one year in prison. Christian and Leftwich were not charged.(2013) [62]
Pennsylvania[edit]
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice,Joan Orie Melvin (R) was convicted in February 2013, on six of seven corruption charges including theft of services, criminal conspiracy, and misappropriation of state property. (2013)[63]
State Senator and Democratic Minority Floor Leader of the Pennsylvania Senate Bob Mellow (D) pleaded guilty to using Senate staffers for campaigns. (2012)[64]
State Senator and Republican Majority Whip of the Pennsylvania Senate, Jane Orie (R) was convicted in March 2012, of 14 counts of forgery, conflict of interest and theft of services, which included five felonies. (2012)[65][66]
State Representative and Speaker of the House of Representatives John M. Perzel (R), pleaded guilty to eight criminal charges, including two counts of conflict of interest, two counts of theft, and four counts of conspiracy, concerning a scheme to spend millions of taxpayer dollars on computer technology from Aristotle, Inc. for the benefit of Republican political campaigns. (2011)[67][68]
Perzel’s Chief of Staff Brian Preski (R) was sentenced to 2½ years.[69][70][71]
State Representative Brett Feese (R) sentenced to 4 to 12 years in state prison, an additional 2 years of probation, a $25,000 fine, and $1 million in restitution for his role in the Computergate state government corruption scandal.[72]
Local[edit]
Luzerne County Board of CommissionerGreg Skrepenak, (D), was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for corruption. (2010)
Rhode Island[edit]
State Representative Daniel P. Gordon(R) of Portsmouth when arrested for drunk driving told police it was due topost-traumatic stress disorder from being wound in the gulf war. A check revealed he was never in combat, but did reveal an extensive arrest record inMassachusetts for assault and attempted murder. (2011)[73]
South Carolina[edit]
Lieutenant Governor Ken Ard (R) resigned his position and pled guilty to 7 counts of mis-use of campaign funds. He was sentenced to five years probation, fined $5,000 and required to work 300 hours of community service. (2011)[74][75]
State Representative Kristopher Crawford (R) was convicted by a jury of four misdemeanor counts of failure to file his taxes. (2012) fined $10,000.[76]
Washington, D.C.[edit]
District of Columbia Councillor Harry Thomas, Jr. (D) was convicted of felony counts of theft of government funds and falsifying tax returns. (2012)
West Virginia[edit]
State Representative Lisa D. Smith (R) pled guilty to one count of mail fraud and one count of failure to pay employee taxes. She was sentenced to two years in prison, three years of probation and fined $1,000,000.[77]
2000–2009[edit]
Alabama[edit]
Governor of Alabama Don Siegelman(D) was found guilty of bribery, mail fraud and obstruction of justice on June 29, 2006, and sentenced to 88 months.[78]
State Senator Edward McClain (D) was convicted on January 21, 2009 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama[79] on 48 counts ofmoney laundering, mail fraud, bribery and conspiracy.[80] Lost his seat because of the conviction.[81]
Mayor of Birmingham, Alambama Larry Langford (D) was sentenced on March 5, 2010 to 15 years in prison by a federal judge in Tuscaloosa, Alabamafor conspiracy, bribery, fraud, money laundering, and filing false tax returns in connection with a long-running bribery scheme.[82] He was also fined more than $119,000.[83]
Alaska[edit]
Alaska political corruption probe in which VECO Corporation an oilfield service corporation, was investigated by the IRS, FBI and Department of Justice. Veco executives Bill Allen and VP Rick Smith pled guilty to federal charges of extortion, bribery, and conspiracy to impede the Internal Revenue Service.[84] The charges involved bribing Alaska lawmakers who came to be known as the "Corrupt Bastards Club"[85] to vote in favor of an oil tax law favored by VECO that was the subj