Former superlobbyist Paul Magliocchetti, once the master of getting defense earmarks for his clients from members of Congress, was sentenced Friday to 27 months in prison for making hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal campaign contributions.
U.S. District Court Judge T. S. Ellis III sentenced the 64-year-old Magliocchetti in federal court in Alexandria for devising what prosecutors called "one of the largest, most extensive and long-running campaign finance schemes ever."
"You made this choice for one reason: greed," said Judge Ellis, who also ordered Magliocchetti to spend two years on supervised release and pay $75,000 in fines.
The Justice Department had sought the maximum sentence of 57 months in prison for Magliocchetti, while his lawyers had asked for home confinement, probation and a $10,000 fine.
Sentencing guidelines called for a prison term of 46 to 57 months, but Magliocchetti's lawyers argued that he was physically and medically ill and had psychologist David Blackmon testify during the three-hour sentencing hearing that Magliocchetti suffers from the early stages of a cognitive impairment that would be aggravated by time in prison.
Judge Ellis did not seem persuaded to lessen the sentence because of the health arguments alone, but defense arguments that a lenient sentence would be more in line with other election cases did seem to resonate with him.
"I'm a bit dismayed that the government hasn't pursued all these cases with the same vigor," he said.
Magliocchetti pleaded guilty in September to violating federal campaign laws by using "straw donors" — friends, lobbyists and family members — to funnel $386,250 in illegal contributions to members of Congress, including key members of the House Appropriations defense subcommittee who provided millions of dollars in earmarks for his lobbying clients.
It came out in the hearing that prosecutors think the total of the illegal contributions may have been over $1 million, which the defense disputed.
Wearing a blue sports coat and looking weary, Magliocchetti read a prepared statement to the judge. Several of his family members and friends were present in the courtroom.
(source:washingtontimes.com)
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