WASHINGTON (AP) — A D.C. Superior Court judge has sentenced a former D.C. Council candidate to 60 days in jail for making false reports to the city’s campaign finance office.
The Washington Post reports (http://wapo.st/1mYt2cL ) that Judge Anita Josey-Herring also ordered 40-year-old Jeff Smith to pay $10,000 in fines Thursday. Smith also will spend one year on probation and must complete 400 hours of community service.
In court, Josey-Herring said Smith used illegal means to gain a political advantage. She said he undermined the transparency of the election process.
Smith pleaded guilty in June to making false financial statements in his failed 2010 run against Councilmember Jim Graham. Smith said businessman Jeffrey Thompson secretly funneled $140,000 to his campaign.
Prosecutors didn’t oppose a light sentence, citing Smith’s cooperation and lack of prior convictions.
___
Information from: The Washington Post, http://www.washingtonpost.com
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
