Political Operative Sentenced to Prison in Theft

Political consultant John Haggerty, who was convicted of stealing campaign funds from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg in October, was sentenced to one and a third to four years in state prison yesterday.  He will also have to pay $750,000 in restitution to Mayor Bloomberg, while the Independence Party has agreed to return $150,000.

Mr. Haggerty’s crime was in convincing Mayor Bloomberg’s campaign to donating to the state’s Independence Party during the Mayor’s 2009 re-election effort. He promised to use the money to set up an Election Day voting-security operation, but instead used it to  buy his family home in Queens.

Although he plans to appeal the conviction, Mr. Haggerty began serving his sentence immediately.  His lawyers said they will seek bail pending the appeal.

Read news coverage of the sentencing in the New York Times, the New York Post and Reuters.