List of American state and local politicians convicted of crimes
Encyclopedia
This list includes American state and local politicians convicted of crimes while in office.
Convicted politicians are those politician
s who have actually been convicted in a court of law. They 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 or accusations, nor does it include mere arrests or indictments.
Also not included 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.
Convicted politicians are those politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
s who have actually been convicted in a court of law. They 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 or accusations, nor does it include mere arrests or indictments.
Also not included 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.
2010–
- AlabamaAlabamaAlabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
State Representative Terry Spicer (D) pled guilty to accepting more than $3000 per month in bribes. (2011)
- CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
State Senator Roy AshburnRoy AshburnRoy Arthur Ashburn is an American politician from Kern County, California. A Republican, he served as a California State Senator from 2002 to 2010 representing the 18th district. He previously served three terms in the California State Assembly, representing the 32nd district and 12 years on the...
(R) of Bakersfield was arrested on two counts of DUI. He was sentenced to two days in jail and three years probation. (2010)
- MassachusettsMassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
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) - MassachusettsMassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
Speaker of the House Salvatore DiMasiSalvatore DiMasiSalvatore F. "Sal" DiMasi is a former Democratic state representative in Massachusetts. The former Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives originally joined the state legislature in 1979, as a member of the Democratic Party...
(D) was found guilty of using his position to secure multimillion-dollar state contracts for a software company in exchange for kickbacks. (2011) - MassachusettsMassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, BostonBostonBoston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
Councillor Chuck TurnerChuck TurnerChuck Turner is a Boston, Massachusetts politician, activist, and convicted felon, who served on the Boston City Council representing District 7. Turner is a member of the Green-Rainbow Party Massachusetts affiliate to the national Green Party...
(D) was expelled from the Boston City Council on December 1, 2010 following his conviction on federal bribery charges.
- MississippiMississippiMississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
Judge Bobby DeLaughterBobby DeLaughterRobert "Bobby" DeLaughter is an American Mississippi state prosecutor, judge, and author. He is notable for prosecuting and securing the conviction in 1994 of Byron De La Beckwith, charged with the murder of the civil rights leader Medgar Evers on June 12, 1963...
was made famous for finally convicting Byron De La BeckwithByron De La BeckwithByron De La Beckwith, Jr. was an American white supremacist and Klansman from Greenwood, Mississippi who was convicted in the 1994 state trial of assassinating the civil rights leader Medgar Evers on June 12, 1963....
in 1994 for the murder of civil rights leader Medgar EversMedgar EversMedgar Wiley Evers was an African American civil rights activist from Mississippi involved in efforts to overturn segregation at the University of Mississippi...
in 1963. DeLaughter pled guilty of one count of lying to the FBI and was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
- New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
State Senator Hiram MonserrateHiram MonserrateHiram Monserrate is a former member of the New York State Senate. He represented the 13th District which includes the Queens neighborhoods of Jackson Heights, Corona, East Elmhurst, Elmhurst and Woodside...
(D-NY) of the 13th District, was expelled by the New York State Senate on February 9, 2010 in connection with a misdemeanor assault conviction against his girlfriend.
- New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
State Senator Efrain GonzalezEfrain GonzalezEfrain Gonzalez Jr. was New York senator and convicted Felon.He was the Chair of the Minority Conference within the Senate, as well as Chairman Emeritus of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators, Chair of the New York State Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force. He is President of the...
(D-NY) On May 25, 2010, Gonzalez was sentenced to 84 months (7 years) in prison, followed by two years supervised release, after pleading guilty to two conspiracyConspiracy (crime)In the criminal law, a conspiracy is an agreement between two or more persons to break the law at some time in the future, and, in some cases, with at least one overt act in furtherance of that agreement...
counts and two wire fraudWire fraudMail and wire fraud is a federal crime in the United States. Together, 18 U.S.C. §§ 1341, 1343, and 1346 reach any fraudulent scheme or artifice to intentionally deprive another of property or honest services with a nexus to mail or wire communication....
counts in May 2009. - New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
President of the New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
council Andrew SteinAndrew SteinAndrew Stein was a Democratic politician who served on the New York City Council and was its last President, and as Manhattan Borough President. Stein's father is Jerry Finkelstein, the retired multi-millionaire publisher of the New York Law Journal, among other publications...
(D) was convicted of tax evasion regarding a Ponzi scheme in November 2010.
- North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
Governor Mike EasleyMike EasleyMichael Francis "Mike" Easley is an American politician who served as the 72nd Governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina, from 2001 to 2009. He is member of the North Carolina Democratic Party and became the first North Carolina governor to admit to a felony in a deal that halted a lengthy...
(D) was convicted of a federal campaign law felony in November 2010. - PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
State Representative Mike VeonMike VeonMichael R. Veon is a former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the 14th District from 1985 through 2006.-Personal life:...
(D) was found guilty on 14 counts of illegal campaign fund raising. (2010)
- PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
State Representative John M. PerzelJohn M. PerzelJohn Michael Perzel is an American politician and member of the Republican Party. Perzel represented 172nd Legislative District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1978 until 2010. From April 2003 to January 2007, he served as House Speaker...
(R) and speaker of the House of Representatives 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.Aristotle, Inc.Aristotle, Inc. is a U.S. company founded and led by brothers John Aristotle Phillips and Dean Aristotle Phillips in 1983, specializing in data-mining voter data for political campaigns....
for the benefit of GOP political campaigns. (2011) - PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
State Senator Vince Fumo (D) On March 16, 2009, Fumo was found guilty of 137 counts of corruption and was facing a minimum of ten years in prison. His former aide, Ruth Arnao, was found guilty of 45 counts against her. On July 14, 2009, Fumo was sentenced to 55 months in prison.
- Rhode IslandRhode IslandThe state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
State Representative Daniel P. Gordon (R) of Porstmouth when arrested for drunk driving told police it was due to PTSD from being wound in the gulf war. A check reveiled he was never in combat, but did reveal an extensive arrest record in MassachusettsMassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
for assault and attempted murder. (2011)
- West VirginiaWest VirginiaWest Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
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.
2000–2009
- AlabamaAlabamaAlabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
Governor Don SiegelmanDon SiegelmanDon Eugene Siegelman is an American Democratic Party politician who held numerous offices in Alabama. He was the 51st Governor of Alabama for one term from 1999 to 2003...
(D) was found guilty of bribery, mail fraud and obstruction of justice 6/29/2006, and sentenced to 88 months. - AlabamaAlabamaAlabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
State Senator Edward McClainEdward McClainEdward Browning 'E. B.' McClain was a Democratic member of the Alabama Senate, representing the 19th District from 1995 through 2009. Previously he was a member of the Alabama House of Representatives, from 1987 through 1994.- Conviction :...
(D) Convicted on January 21, 2009 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama on 48 counts of money launderingMoney launderingMoney laundering is the process of disguising illegal sources of money so that it looks like it came from legal sources. The methods by which money may be laundered are varied and can range in sophistication. Many regulatory and governmental authorities quote estimates each year for the amount...
, mail fraud, bribery and conspiracy. Lost his seat because of the conviction.
- 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 AllenBill Allen (corporate CEO)William J. "Bill" Allen is the co-founder and former CEO of the Alaska oilfield services company VECO Corporation. VECO Corporation was an Alaska-based oil pipeline service and construction company. Bill Allen was born in New Mexico and at the age of 16 left for the oil fields of Alaska to become...
and VP Rick Smith pled guilty to federal charges of extortion, bribery, and conspiracy to impede the Internal Revenue ServiceInternal Revenue ServiceThe Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...
. The charges involved bribing Alaska lawmakers who came to be known as the "Corrupt Bastards Club" to vote in favor of an oil tax law favored by VECO that was the subject of vigorous debate in 2006, and were part of a larger probe of political corruption in Alaska by federal authorities.
- Thomas AndersonTom Anderson (politician)Thomas T. "Tom" Anderson is a consultant and former Alaska state representative for District 19 representing northeast Anchorage, Alaska...
(R) State Representative for District 19. Found guilty of seven felony counts of extortion, bribery, conspiracy, and money laundering. Sentenced on October 15, 2007 to a term of 60 months in prison. - Pete KottPete KottPeter "Pete" Kott is a former Republican state representative for District 17 serving Eagle River, Alaska, in the Alaska Legislature for seven terms, from 1993 until 2007. He was Speaker of the House during his sixth term in 2003-2004...
(R) State Representative for District 17. Found guilty on three charges of bribery and sentenced to six years in prison and fined $10,000. (2007) - Vic KohringVic KohringVic Kohring is a former Alaska State legislator. He was elected to seven consecutive two-year terms in the Alaska House of Representatives, beginning in 1994. Kohring represented District 14, Wasilla....
(R) State Representative convicted on November 1, 2007, of 3 counts of bribery by the Veco Corporation. In May 2008 he was sentenced to three and a half years in prison. - Jim ClarkJim ClarkJames "Jim" Clark, Jr OBE was a British Formula One racing driver from Scotland, who won two World Championships, in 1963 and 1965....
(R) Chief of Staff to Governor Frank MurkowskiFrank MurkowskiFrancis Hughes Murkowski is an American politician and a member of the Republican Party. He was a United States Senator from Alaska from 1981 until 2002 and the eighth Governor of Alaska from 2002 until 2006.- Early life and career :...
(R). On March 4, 2008, Clark pleaded guilty to one felony conspiracy charge involving the Alaska political corruption probe.# - Bruce WeyhrauchBruce WeyhrauchBruce Weyhrauch is a former legislator in the Alaska State House representing Juneau. In May 2007, Weyhrauch, along with fellow legislators Pete Kott and Vic Kohring were charged in connection with a scandal involving oilfield service company VECO attempting to buy government favors in Alaska...
(R) State Representative of Juneau was sentenced to five years. - John CowderyJohn CowderyJohn Cowdery is a Republican member of the Alaska Senate, representing the O District since 2001. He was previously a member of the Alaska House of Representatives from 1982 through 1984, and from 1997 through 2000.-External links:...
(R) State Senator of O district. Pled guilty to lesser charges on 3/10/09. http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=9551979 Sentenced to six months house arrest and a $25,000 fine. - Beverly Masek (R) State Representative of Willow, was sentenced to 6 months on September 23, 2009. http://www.adn.com/295/story/947518.html
- ConnecticutConnecticutConnecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
Governor John G. RowlandJohn G. RowlandJohn Grosvenor Rowland was the 86th Governor of Connecticut from 1995 to 2004; he is a member of the Republican Party. He is married to Patty Rowland, his second wife, and the couple have five children between them...
(R) Rowland resigned from office during a corruption investigation, and later pleaded guilty to one-count of deprevation of honest services. (2004) He served ten months in a federal prison followed by four months house arrestHouse arrestIn justice and law, house arrest is a measure by which a person is confined by the authorities to his or her residence. Travel is usually restricted, if allowed at all...
, ending in June, 2006.
- FloridaFloridaFlorida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
State Representative Ray SansomRay SansomRay Sansom was a member of the Florida House of Representatives, representing portions of Okaloosa and Santa Rosa counties from 2002 to February 21, 2010....
(R) resigned as Speaker of the House and was then indicted on charges of grand theft and conspiracy in conjunction with a GOP fundraiser and developer and the president of a local college. His trial is set for January 2010. - FloridaFloridaFlorida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, State Senator Gary SiplinGary SiplinGary Anthony Siplin is a Democratic member of the Florida Senate, representing the 19th District since 2003. Previously he was a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 2000 through 2002....
(D) was convicted of grand theft of $5,000 or more for using state employees for his election campaign. The felony conviction was dropped on appeal. (2006)
- GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
Schools Superintendent Linda SchrenkoLinda SchrenkoLinda Schrenko is a former superintendent of schools in the U.S. state of Georgia who was convicted on an embezzlement scheme and sentenced to 8 years in prison.- Biography :Schrenko was born on July 24, 1949, in Millen, Georgia...
(R) sentenced to 8 years in prison for embezzlement of federal education funds.
- IllinoisIllinoisIllinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
Governor Rod BlagojevichRod BlagojevichRod R. Blagojevich is an American politician who served as the 40th Governor of Illinois from 2003 to 2009. A Democrat, Blagojevich was a State Representative before being elected to the United States House of Representatives representing parts of Chicago...
(D) was arrested at his home by Federal Agents and charged with conspiracy to commit mail, wire fraud and solicitation of bribery. For these alleged crimes he was impeached and removed from office by 59-0 votes of the Illinois Senate.(January 28, 2009) On August 17, 2010, he was convicted on one of the 24 federal charges, lying to the FBI, and the jury was hungHung juryA hung jury or deadlocked jury is a jury that cannot, by the required voting threshold, agree upon a verdict after an extended period of deliberation and is unable to change its votes due to severe differences of opinion.- England and Wales :...
on the 23 other counts.In a retrial in 2011, he was aquitted on one count, the jury reached no decision on two counts, and he was found guilty on 17 other counts.
- Alonso Monk (D) former chief of staff to Rod BlagojevichRod BlagojevichRod R. Blagojevich is an American politician who served as the 40th Governor of Illinois from 2003 to 2009. A Democrat, Blagojevich was a State Representative before being elected to the United States House of Representatives representing parts of Chicago...
pled quilty to one count of mail fraud (2009) - Christopher Kelly (D) advisor to Rod BlagojevichRod BlagojevichRod R. Blagojevich is an American politician who served as the 40th Governor of Illinois from 2003 to 2009. A Democrat, Blagojevich was a State Representative before being elected to the United States House of Representatives representing parts of Chicago...
pled guilty to tax fraud. (2009) - John F. HarrisJohn F. HarrisJohn F. Harris is an American political journalist and the editor in chief for Politico, an Arlington, Virginia based political news organization. With Politico executive editor, Jim VandeHei, Harris founded Politico for its launch on January 23, 2007...
(D) chief of staff to Rod Blagojevich, pled quilty to one count of mail fraud (2009)- IllinoisIllinoisIllinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
Governor George H. Ryan (R) illegal sale of government licenses and contracts as Secretary of State and as Governor. He was convicted of 18 counts of corruption. (2006)
- Illinois
- Scott Fawell (R) Chief of Staff to George RyanGeorge RyanGeorge Homer Ryan, Sr. was the 39th Governor of the U.S. state of Illinois from 1999 until 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party. Ryan became nationally known when in 2000 he imposed a moratorium on executions and "raised the national debate on capital punishment"...
was convicted of racketeering and fraud and sentenced to 6 years and 6 months.- LouisianaLouisianaLouisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
Governor Edwin EdwardsEdwin EdwardsEdwin Washington Edwards served as the Governor of Louisiana for four terms , twice as many terms as any other Louisiana chief executive has served. Edwards was also Louisiana's first Roman Catholic governor in the 20th century...
(D) convicted of extortion, mail fraud and money laundering. (2000) - LouisianaLouisianaLouisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
Insurance Commissioner James H. "Jim" Brown (D) convicted of lying to FBI investigators.
- Louisiana
- MassachusettsMassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
Speaker of the House Thomas FinneranThomas FinneranThomas M. Finneran , is a radio talk host and former Massachusetts Democratic politician who served as Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from April 1996 to September 2004...
(D) pled guilty to one count of obstruction of justice and received 18 months probation. (2004) - MassachusettsMassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
State Senator Dianne WilkersonDianne WilkersonDianne Wilkerson is a former Democratic member of the Massachusetts Senate, representing the 2nd Suffolk District from 1993 to 2008....
(D-MA) was video taped by the FBI stuffing bribe money into her bra. Charged with tax evasion (1997), ethics violations (2001) and perjury (2005). Wilkerson pled guilty to eight counts of attempted extortion.
- MarylandMarylandMaryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
State Senator Thomas L. BromwellThomas L. BromwellThomas L. Bromwell is a former Democratic state senator in Maryland, United States.-Background:Bromwell was first elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 1979 to represent District 9 in Baltimore County and Baltimore City. In 1983, he successfully ran for the seat of District 8 in the...
(D) was convicted in 2007 and sentenced to 7 years in prison for racketeering, corruption and fraud to benefit construction company Poole and Kent.
- MichiganMichiganMichigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
State Representative David JayeDavid JayeDavid Jaye is a former Republican politician from Michigan. He is considered one of the most controversial politicians from Michigan. He was the first state senator in Michigan's history to be ousted from the State Senate...
(R) was expelled from the house in 2001 after allegations of wife beating and three drunk driving convictions.
- MinnesotaMinnesotaMinnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
the Republican Party of MinnesotaRepublican Party of MinnesotaThe Republican Party of Minnesota is the Minnesota branch of the United States Republican Party. Elected by the party’s state central committee in June 2009, its chairman is Tony Sutton, and its deputy-chairman is Michael Brodkorb.-Early history:...
was fined $170,000 for violating federal campaign finance regulations from 2003-2008. (2011) - MinnesotaMinnesotaMinnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
state representative Mark D. Olson (R) for District 16B was convicted of one of two fifth degree domestic assault charges. (2006)
- MissouriMissouriMissouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
State Senator Jeff Smith (D) Resigned from the Senate effective August 25, 2009 after confessing to two counts of obstruction of justice. He was sentenced to 1 year and a day of prison and was fined $50,000. - MissouriMissouriMissouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
State Representative Nathan CooperNathan CooperNathan Cooper was an attorney in Missouri elected to serve in the Missouri House of Representatives in 2004 and resigned this position in 2007 after pleading guilty to federal crimes of immigration fraud. The Missouri Supreme Court suspended his license to practice law. He was sentenced to 15...
(R) resigned shortly before he was convicted on two felony counts of immigration fraude in 2007.
- NebraskaNebraskaNebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
State Treasurer Lorelee Byrd (R) Pled guilty to one misdemeanor charge of misconduct and resigned in 2003.
- NevadaNevadaNevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
State Controller Kathy AugustineKathy AugustineKathy Marie Alfano Augustine was a U.S. Republican Party politician from Nevada. She served in the Nevada Assembly and in the Nevada Senate...
(R) impeached and convicted, but not removed from office. (2004)
- New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
Operation Bid RigOperation Bid RigOperation Bid Rig is an ongoing, long-term investigation into political corruption in New Jersey conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, and the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey since 2002...
: An FBI sting operation indicted 44 New Jersey officials and several Rabbis, mainly for bribery, counterfeiting of intellectual property, money laundering, organ harvesting, and political corruption. Arrested were:
- Daniel M. Van Pelt(R) NJ State Assemblyman (representative). Resigned after indictment for bribery.
- New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
State Senator Wayne Bryant (D) was covicted of bribery. (2007) - New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
Former State Senator Joseph ConiglioJoseph ConiglioJoseph Coniglio Coniglio, a former plumber turned politician was the Chairman of the State Government Committee, and also served on the Senate Labor Committee and the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee...
(D) indicted for abusing state grants, mail fraud and extortion. (2008)
- New Jersey
- New MexicoNew MexicoNew Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
State Senate Leader Manny Aragon (D) was found guilty of three counts of conspiracy to defraud 4.4 million from the State of New Mexico. (2009)
- New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
State Senator and Republican Majority Leader Joseph BrunoJoseph BrunoJoseph L. Bruno is an American businessman, and Republican politician. He was the Temporary President of the New York State Senate and its majority leader. Most recently he also served as Lieutenant Governor of New York ....
(R). On January 23, 2009, Bruno was convicted on two counts of wire fraud. - New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
State Representative Brian McLaughlin (D) was arrested in 2008 and sentenced to ten years in prison for racketeering.(2009) - New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
State Senator Guy VelellaGuy VelellaGuy John Velella was a Republican New York State Senator from The Bronx.A political leader, state assemblyman, and state senator for over 30 years, Velella was indicted in 2002 with 25 counts of bribery and conspiracy for allegedly accepting at least $137,000 in exchange for steering public-works...
(R) was indicted for briberyBriberyBribery, a form of corruption, is an act implying money or gift giving that alters the behavior of the recipient. Bribery constitutes a crime and is defined by Black's Law Dictionary as the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions of an official or...
and conspiracyConspiracy (civil)A civil conspiracy or collusion is an agreement between two or more parties to deprive a third party of legal rights or deceive a third party to obtain an illegal objective....
for accepting at least $137,000 in exchange for steering public-works contracts to the paying parties. He ultimately pleaded guilty to one count and received a year in jail. He served 182 days. (2002) See also List of state and local political sex scandals in the United States - New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
State Senator Ernest E. Newton II (D) was sentenced to five years in prison for bribery in 2005.
- North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
Commissioner of Agriculture Meg Scott PhippsMeg Scott PhippsMeg Scott Phipps was the Commissioner of Agriculture for the state of North Carolina from 2001 to 2003.-Early life:She is the daughter of former North Carolina governor Bob Scott and former First Lady Jessie Rae Scott, as well as the granddaughter of former U.S. Senator and North Carolina Governor...
(D) pleaded guilty to campaign finance charges and served three years in prison. (2003) - North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
Representative James B. BlackJames B. BlackDr. James "Jim" Boyce Black is a member of the North Carolina Democratic Party, and a former Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly who represented the state's 100th House district, including constituents in Mecklenburg County...
(D) pleaded guilty to a federalUnited States CodeThe Code of Laws of the United States of America is a compilation and codification of the general and permanent federal laws of the United States...
charge of public corruptionPolitical corruptionPolitical corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
on February 15, 2007, and sentenced to five years in prison. See Michael DeckerMichael P. DeckerMichael Paul Decker, Sr. is a former member of the North Carolina General Assembly representing the state's ninety-fourth House district, including constituents in Forsyth County...
(R) - North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
Representative Michael DeckerMichael P. DeckerMichael Paul Decker, Sr. is a former member of the North Carolina General Assembly representing the state's ninety-fourth House district, including constituents in Forsyth County...
(R) was bribed by James BlackJames B. BlackDr. James "Jim" Boyce Black is a member of the North Carolina Democratic Party, and a former Democratic member of the North Carolina General Assembly who represented the state's 100th House district, including constituents in Mecklenburg County...
(D) to switch parties and vote for Black. He pled guilty to conspiracy and was sentenced to four years in prison. - Frank W. Ballance (D-NC) was sentenced to four years in prison for corruption while a State Senator in North Carolina. (2004)
- OklahomaOklahomaOklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
State Auditor Jeff McMahan (D) convicted of accepting bribes. (2008)
- OhioOhioOhio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
Governor Bob TaftBob TaftRobert Alphonso "Bob" Taft II is an Ohio Republican Party politician. He was elected to two terms of office as the 67th Governor of the U.S. state of Ohio between 1999-2007. After leaving office, Taft started working for the University of Dayton beginning August 15, 2007.-Personal background:Taft...
(R) pleads no contest and is convicted on four misdemeanor ethics violations. He was fined $4000 and ordered to apologize to the people of Ohio. (2005)
- PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
State Senator Vincent FumoVincent FumoVincent Joseph "Vince" Fumo is a former politician, lawyer and businessman from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A Democrat, he represented a south Philadelphia district in the Pennsylvania Senate from 1978 to 2008. On March 16, 2009, he was convicted of 137 federal corruption charges...
(D) was found guilty of 139-counts of mail fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy, obstruction of justice and filing a false tax return. Two staffers were also arrested and indicted on charges of destroying electronic evidence, including e-mail related to the investigation. (2009) - PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
State Representative Thomas W. DruceThomas W. DruceThomas W. Druce is a former Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He represented the 144th legislative district.He graduated from William Tennent High School in 1979 and from Westminster College in 1983...
(R) was convicted in 2000 of a 1999 hit and runHit and run (vehicular)Hit-and-run is the act of causing a traffic accident , and failing to stop and identify oneself afterwards...
that killed a man. He served two years in prison before his release in 2006. - PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
State Representative Linda Bebko-JonesLinda Bebko-JonesLinda Bebko-Jones was an American politician who represented the 1st district of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, which includes portions of Erie County.-Personal:...
(D) and her chief-of-staff were charged with forging some of the signatures on their nominating petitions. They were both sentenced to 12 months probation and fined $1,500 with community service. (2007) - PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
State Representative Frank LaGrottaFrank LaGrottaFrank LaGrotta is a former Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the 10th District from 1987 to 2006.-Personal life:...
(D) pled guilty to two counts of corruption for giving away $26,000 of state funds to family members through ghost employment in the 2006 Pennsylvania General Assembly bonus controversy2006 Pennsylvania General Assembly bonus controversyIn 2007, Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett began investigating $3.8 million in bonuses paid to legislative staffers in the Pennsylvania General Assembly. While the bonuses themselves are not illegal under state law, the Attorney General is investigating the possibility that the bonuses...
. Sentenced to 6 months house arrest, probation, and fines. (2007) counts of conflict of interest for having ghost workers on his payroll. He was sentenced to six months of house arrest, along with probation and fines. - PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
State Senator Bill SlocumBill SlocumWilliam L. "Bill" Slocum is a former Republican member of the Pennsylvania State Senate. Slocum pleaded guilty and spent a month in federal prison for filing false reports to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and discharging raw sewage into Brokenstraw Creek while he was a...
(R) pled guilty to six criminal misdemeanor charges for filing false reports to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental ProtectionPennsylvania Department of Environmental ProtectionThe Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection was established on July 1, 1995, is the agency in the U.S. State of Pennsylvania responsible for protecting and preserving the land, air, water, and energy resources through enforcement of the State's environmental laws...
and discharging 3.5 million gallons of raw sewage into Brokenstraw CreekBrokenstraw CreekBrokenstraw Creek is a tributary of the Allegheny River in Warren County, Pennsylvania in the United States.Brokenstraw Creek joins the Allegheny River downstream of the city of Warren.-External links:*...
while he was a sewage plant manager in Youngsville, PennsylvaniaYoungsville, PennsylvaniaYoungsville is a borough in Warren County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,834 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Youngsville is located at ....
. (2000) - PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
State Representative Frank GigliottiFrank GigliottiFrank J. Gigliotti is a former member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 22nd legislative district. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and attended South Hills High School and the Carnegie Mellon Managerial School....
(D) was convicted and sentenced in 2000 to 46 months incarceration for extortion, mail fraud, and filing a false income tax return. - PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
State Senator F. Joseph LoeperF. Joseph LoeperF. Joseph "Joe" Loeper is an American politician who represented the 26th senatorial district from 1979 through 2000 in the Pennsylvania State Senate...
(R) In 2000 Loeper pled guilty in federal court of falsifying tax-related documents to conceal more than $330,000 in income he received from a private consulting firm while serving in the Senate. He resigned his senate seat on December 31, 2000, and was later released from federal prison at Fort Dix, New JerseyFort Dix, New JerseyJB MDL Dix , better known as Fort Dix, is a United States Army base located approximately south-southeast of Trenton, New Jersey. Dix is under the jurisdiction of the United States Army Reserve Command...
, after serving 6 months.
- Rhode IslandRhode IslandThe state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
State Representative and House Majority Leader Gerard M. Martineau (D) was given 37 months in prison for influence peddling. (2008) - Rhode IslandRhode IslandThe state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
State Senator John Celona (D) was given 4 years in prison for influence peddling. (2007)
- South CarolinaSouth CarolinaSouth Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
State Treasurer Thomas RavenelThomas RavenelThomas Ravenel is a South Carolina politician and former State Treasurer. He is the son of former South Carolina Congressman Arthur Ravenel, Jr..-Background:...
(R) convicted on cocaine charges. (2007)
- South DakotaSouth DakotaSouth Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
former state legislator and senate candidate Ted KlaudtTed KlaudtTed Alvin Klaudt is a farmer, rancher, convicted rapist, and former Republican member of the South Dakota House of Representatives from Walker, South Dakota, United States...
(R) was convicted of witness tampering and sentenced to 10 years in prison concerning his conviction on all four counts of second-degree rape with his underage foster children. He was sentenced on January 17, 2008.
- TennesseeTennesseeTennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
Operation Tennessee WaltzOperation Tennessee WaltzOperation Tennessee Waltz was a sting operation set up by federal and state law enforcement agents, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The operation led to the arrest of seven Tennessee state lawmakers and two men identified as "bagmen" in the...
An FBI sting operation between 2003 and 2007 in which a number of state and local representatives were arrested including;
- John Ford State Senator (D) Sentenced to 66 months for bribery.
- Kathryn Bowers State Senator (D) Pled guilty to one count of bribery.
- Ward CrutchfieldWard CrutchfieldWard Crutchfield, born December 6, 1928, in Chattanooga, is a Tennessee politician and a former Democratic member of the Tennessee Senate for the 10th district, which encompasses Marion County and part of Hamilton County. He was a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives from 1957 to 1959...
State Senator (D) Pled guilty to one count of bribery. - Chris NewtonChris NewtonChristopher Malcolm Newton is a successful road and track racing cyclist. Newton is a multiple world champion and Olympian.-Biography:Newton is an alumnus of the University of Teesside in Middlesbrough...
State Representative (R) Sentenced to one year for bribery.
- West VirginiaWest VirginiaWest Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
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.
- WisconsinWisconsinWisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
State Senator Brian BurkeBrian BurkeBrian Thomas Burke was Labor premier of Western Australia from 25 February 1983 until his resignation on 25 February 1988...
(D) was sentenced to six months in jail for using state employees for campaign work.
1990–1999
- ArizonaArizonaArizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
In a scandal now known as AzScam, members of the Arizona House or Senate were caught on videotape taking payoffs for favors to an undercover sting agent. Ten members resigned or were removed. (1991) - ArizonaArizonaArizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
Governor John Fife Symington III (R-AZ) was convicted on charges of extortion, making false financial statements, and of bank fraud in 1997. The conviction was overturned in 1999 by the Ninth Circuit Court of AppealsUnited States Court of Appeals for the Ninth CircuitThe United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is a U.S. federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* District of Alaska* District of Arizona...
. Before retrial, he was pardoned by President Bill ClintonBill ClintonWilliam Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
.
- ArkansasArkansasArkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
Governor Jim Guy TuckerJim Guy TuckerJames "Jim" Guy Tucker, Jr. is an Arkansas political figure. He served as the 43rd Governor of Arkansas, the 11th Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas, Arkansas Attorney General, and U.S. Representative...
. (D-AR), As part of the Whitewater investigation run by Kenneth StarrKenneth StarrKenneth Winston "Ken" Starr is an American lawyer and educational administrator who has also been a federal judge. He is best known for his investigation of figures during the Clinton administration....
, Tucker was convicted of fraud and conspiracy and sentenced to four years probation. (1996)
- CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
an FBI investigation called Shrimpscam or BRISPEC targeted corruption in the California legislature. Five convictions were obtained.
- CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
Senator Alan Robbins (D) resigned on November 21, 1991, in advance of pleading guilty to federal racketeering charges in connection with insurance-industry bribes. - CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
Senator Joseph B. Montoya (D) was convicted in April 1990 of rackeetering, extortion and money laundering and was sentenced to 6 1/2 years in prison. - CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
Senator Frank HillFrank HillFrank Robert Hill was a Scottish football player and manager.-Forfar and Aberdeen:Hill was born in Forfar and started his career at Forfar Athletic, joining the club in 1924. He moved to Aberdeen in 1928 and played over 100 Scottish First Division matches...
(R) and his aid were found guilty of corruption and money laundering and sentenced to 46 months in prison. {1994} - CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
Board of Equalization member Paul B. Carpenter (D) was found guilty of 11 counts of obstruction of justice and money laundering. (1993) - CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
State Assemblyman Pat NolanPat NolanPatrick J. Nolan is an American lawyer, politician and conservative activist.-Early Political Activism:Nolan began his career as a conservative activist at the age of 14 in the Goldwater for President campaign. Pat was a leader in the Youth for Reagan for Governor in 1966 and in each of Reagan's...
(R) served 29 months for bribery in an FBI sting operation called Shrimpscam.
- IllinoisIllinoisIllinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
state representative James DeLeoJames DeLeoJames A. DeLeo was a Democratic member of the Illinois Senate, representing the 10th district since 1992, and is an Assistant Majority Leader. Earlier he served in the Illinois House of Representatives. He announced his retirement from the State Senate in 2010, and left office in August 2010....
(D-IL) caught in the "Operation Greylord" investigation of corruption in Cook County. He was indicted by a federal grand jury for taking bribes and negotiated guilty plea on a misdemeanor tax offense, and was placed on probation (1992) - IllinoisIllinoisIllinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
state representative Joe Kotlarz (D-IL) convicted and sentenced to jail for theft and conspiracy for pocketing in about $200,000 for a sale of state land to a company he once served as legal counsel (1997) - IllinoisIllinoisIllinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
state senator Bruce A. Farley (D-IL) sentenced to 18 months in prison for mail fraud (1999) - IllinoisIllinoisIllinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
state senator John A. D’Arco Jr. (D-IL) served about 3 years in prison for bribery and extortion (1995) - Walter R. Tucker IIIWalter R. Tucker IIIWalter Rayford Tucker III is a former U.S. Democratic politician from California.Tucker was born in Compton, California, and was scion to a political dynasty known as the "Kennedys of Compton." He is the son of Walter R. Tucker, Jr., a dentist who was mayor of Compton...
(D-CA) resigned from the US House of Representatives before conviction on charges of extortion and income tax fraud while he was Mayor of Compton, California. Sentenced to 27 months in prison.(1996) - Nicholas MavroulesNicholas MavroulesNicholas James Mavroules was a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from Massachusetts who was jailed after pleading guilty to corruption charges....
(D-MA) pleaded guilty to bribery charges.
- KentuckyKentuckyThe Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
FBI Operation BoptrotOperation BoptrotOperation Boptrot, also referred to as Boptrot, was an investigation by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation into corruption among the Kentucky General Assembly, the Commonwealth's legislature. The operation was highly successful, leading to the conviction of more than a dozen...
was an investigation into bribery and the horse racing industry in which House Majority Leader Don BlandfordDon BlandfordDonald Blandford, a Democrat, was a longtime Kentucky state legislator. He served as Speaker of the Kentucky House of Representatives until his indictment and conviction for bribery....
(D), was sent to prison for 64 months and the Senate Minority Leader John Rogers (R) was sent to prison for 48 months. Approximately 10% of Kentucky's legislature, both the house and senate, was implicated in this scandal, some taking bribes for as little as $100). (1992)
- MassachusettsMassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
Speaker of the House Charles FlahertyCharles FlahertyCharles F. Flaherty is a U.S. politician who served as a Democratic member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1967-1996...
(D-MA) pled guilty to felony tax evasion for submitting false receipts regarding his business expenses and to violations of the state conflict of interests law. (1996)
- MarylandMarylandMaryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
politician Ruthann AronRuthann AronRuthann Greenzweig Aron is a former politician and real estate developer who ran unsuccessfully for the 1994 Republican U.S. Senate nomination from Maryland. A member of the Montgomery County Planning Board, she lost the nomination to former Tennessee Senator Bill Brock, who was in turn defeated...
(R) (Montgomery County Planning Board member and former 1994 Republican candidate for U.S. Senate) who ran on a "tough on crime" platform was convicted of hiring "contract" hit man William H. Mossburg Jr., in 1997, to kill her husband and a lawyer. (1998)
- MinnesotaMinnesotaMinnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
State Senator Sam SolonSam SolonSam George Solon was a Minnesota politician, and a member of the Minnesota Senate and the Minnesota House of Representatives. A Democrat, he served in the legislature for over 30 years, 28 of those years in the senate. He died of malignant melanoma in 2001.-Early years and education:Solon was born...
(D-MN) Pleaded guilty in 1995 to telecommunications fraud for letting his ex-wife make $2,430 in calls on his State Senate telephone line.
- MissouriMissouriMissouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
Secretary of State Judith MoriartyJudith MoriartyJudith K. Moriarty is an American politician from Missouri. She was the first woman to serve as Missouri Secretary of State....
(D-MO) was impeached for misconduct involving back-dating of her son's election paperwork to hide a missed filing deadline. - MissouriMissouriMissouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
Attorney General William L. WebsterWilliam L. WebsterWilliam L. Webster is a former American politician and convicted felon from Missouri.-Early life and career:William Webster is the son of the late Richard M. Webster, who was a prominent Missouri State Senator and Janet Webster. Webster was born and raised in Carthage, Missouri and was a graduate...
(R) sentenced to two years in prison for conspiracy in a scheme that rewarded lawyers who donated to his campaign with bigger settlements. (1993)
- NebraskaNebraskaNebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
State Treasurer Frank March (R) convicted of misdemeanor charges for making personal, long-distance telephone calls. (1991)
- New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
State Senator Randy Kuhl, Jr. (R) of the 29th District, was arrested and convicted of drunk driving in 1997. His driver's license was revoked for six months. - New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals Sol WachtlerSol WachtlerSolomon Wachtler, born , is a lawyer and politician from New York. He was Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals from 1985 to 1993. Known for the remark, "A marriage license should not be viewed as a license for a husband to forcibly rape his wife with impunity" , Wachtler was a key figure in...
, was investigated for extortion and harassment. He pled guilty to one charge of threatening to kidnap a teenage girl and served 15 months. (1993)
- OklahomaOklahomaOklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
Governor David Lee WaltersDavid WaltersDavid Lee Walters was the 24th Governor of Oklahoma from 1991 to 1995.-Biography:Walters was born near Canute, Oklahoma. He graduated as valedictorian from Canute High School in 1969. He later graduated from University of Oklahoma in 1973 with a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering...
(D) pled guilty to a misdemeanor election law violation. (1993)
- PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
Attorney General Ernie PreateErnie PreateErnest D. Preate, Jr. is a former Pennsylvania Attorney General. His term ended prematurely when he was indicted on federal charges for mail fraud for which he served a sixteen-month prison sentence in Duluth, Minnesota.-References:...
(R) pled guilty to mail fraud. (1995)
- Rhode IslandRhode IslandThe state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
Governor Edward Daniel DiPrete (R) pled guilty to bribery and racketeering charges and served one year in prison. (1998)
- TennesseeTennesseeTennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
State Senate Candidate Byron LooperByron LooperByron Looper , is a former Republican politician in Tennessee. In order to advance his political career, he legally changed his middle name from "Anthony" to ""...
(R) legally changed his middle name from Anthony to Low Tax. Then murdered his Democratic opponent, Tommy Burks, to increase his chances of winning. (1998)
- West VirginiaWest VirginiaWest Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
Governor Arch A. Moore Jr (R) guilty of mail fraud, tax fraud, extortion and obstruction of justice, (1990). - District of ColumbiaWashington, D.C.Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
MayorMayorIn many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
Marion BarryMarion BarryMarion Shepilov Barry, Jr. is an American Democratic politician who is currently serving as a member of the Council of the District of Columbia, representing DC's Ward 8. Barry served as the second elected mayor of the District of Columbia from 1979 to 1991, and again as the fourth mayor from 1995...
(D-DC) caught on videotape using drugs in an FBI sting (1990)
1980–1989
- IllinoisIllinoisIllinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
Governor Daniel WalkerDaniel WalkerDaniel Walker was the 36th Governor of the U.S. state of Illinois from 1973 to 1977.-Early life and career:He was born in Washington, D.C. and raised near San Diego, California. He was the second Governor of Illinois to graduate from the United States Naval Academy. He served as a naval officer in...
(D) was convicted of improprieties stemming from loans from a Savings and Loan. He served 18 months in prison. (1987) The First American Savings & Loan Association of Oak BrookOak Brook, IllinoisOak Brook is a village in DuPage and Cook Counties, in Illinois. The population was 8,702 at the 2000 census. A suburb of Chicago, it is the headquarters of McDonald's and Lions Clubs International.-History:...
was declared insolvent with a deficit of $23 million
- MaineMaineMaine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
State Representative Donald F. Sproul (R) was sentenced to 10 days in prison for ballot tampering.
- MassachusettsMassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
Transportation Secretary Barry LockeBarry LockeBarry Myles Locke was an American political aide who served as Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation from 1979 until he was indicted for corruption in 1981....
(R) was convicted of conspiring to take payoffs. (1982)
- South CarolinaSouth CarolinaSouth Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
Senator Albert Eugene Carmichael (D) was sentenced to ten years in prison for conspiracy to buy votes, obstruction of justice, and vote buying. (1982)
- TennesseeTennesseeTennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
FBI investigation Operation Rocky TopOperation Rocky TopOperation Rocky Top was the Federal Bureau of Investigation's code name for a public corruption investigation into the Tennessee state government in the late 1980s.-Investigation:...
concerned the illegal sale of charity bingo licenses which resulted in over 50 convictions and the incarcerationIncarcerationIncarceration is the detention of a person in prison, typically as punishment for a crime .People are most commonly incarcerated upon suspicion or conviction of committing a crime, and different jurisdictions have differing laws governing the function of incarceration within a larger system of...
of several politicianPoliticianA politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
s, most notably state HouseTennessee House of RepresentativesThe Tennessee House of Representatives is the lower house of the Tennessee General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Tennessee.-Constitutional requirements:...
Majority LeaderMajority leaderIn U.S. politics, the majority floor leader is a partisan position in a legislative body.In the federal Congress, the role differs slightly in the two houses. In the House of Representatives, which chooses its own presiding officer, the leader of the majority party is elected the Speaker of the...
Tommy BurnettTommy BurnettSam Thomas "Tommy" Burnett was a Tennessee politician who was Majority Leader of the Tennessee House of Representatives and who served two prison sentences for separate federal convictions.-Early life :...
(D). Two targets of the investigation committed suicideSuicideSuicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
: Tennessee Secretary of StateTennessee Secretary of StateThe Tennessee Secretary of State is the state secretary of state for the State of Tennessee.The office is created by the Tennessee State Constitution. The Secretary of State is responsible for many of the administrative aspects of the operation of state government of Tennessee...
Gentry CrowellGentry CrowellGentry Crowell was a Tennessee Secretary of State whose office was a target of investigation in Operation Rocky Top and committed suicide during the investigation....
(D) (in December 1989, just before he was scheduled to testify for a third time before a federal grand juryGrand juryA grand jury is a type of jury that determines whether a criminal indictment will issue. Currently, only the United States retains grand juries, although some other common law jurisdictions formerly employed them, and most other jurisdictions employ some other type of preliminary hearing...
) and long-time State Representative Ted Ray Miller of KnoxvilleKnoxville, TennesseeFounded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
(after being charged with briberyBriberyBribery, a form of corruption, is an act implying money or gift giving that alters the behavior of the recipient. Bribery constitutes a crime and is defined by Black's Law Dictionary as the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions of an official or...
). (1986)
1970-1979
- ArkansasArkansasArkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
State Senator Guy H. Jones (D) convicted of tax evasion in 1973, he was expelled from the senate in 1974.
- IllinoisIllinoisIllinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
Governor Otto Kerner, Jr.Otto Kerner, Jr.Otto Kerner, Jr. was the 33rd Governor of Illinois from 1961 to 1968. He is best known for chairing the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders and for accepting bribes....
(D) After serving two terms, Kerner was appointed to the Seventh District Court when he was convicted on 17 counts of bribery, conspiracy, perjury and related charges. (1973) He was sentenced to three years in federal prison. Faced with impeachment, he resigned his position on the federal bench on July 22, 1974.
- TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
State Representative John DowdyJohn DowdyJohn Vernard Dowdy was an American politician. Dowdy was a Democratic member of the House of Representatives from the 7th District of Texas from 1953 to 1967 and then served as a congressman from the 2nd District of Texas until 1973, when he decided to retire under indictment for bribery.According...
(D) was convicted on eight counts for accepting a $25,000 bribe.(1972)
1777-1979
- LouisianaLouisianaLouisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
Attorney General Jack P. F. Gremillion (D) was sentenced to three years in prison for perjury for covering up his dealings with a failed savings and loan. (1972)
See also
- List of American federal politicians convicted of crimes
- List of federal political sex scandals in the United States
- List of federal political scandals in the United States
- List of state and local political scandals in the United States
- List of state and local political sex scandals in the United States
- List of United States Representatives expelled, censured, or reprimanded
- List of United States senators expelled or censured
- List of California public officials charged with crimes