In another high profile case showcasing corruption within Chicago politics former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., son of the Rev. Jesse Jackson, and his wife were sentenced to prison terms for taking roughly $750,000 out of Jackson Jr.'s campaign fund for their personal use, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Jackson Jr. was sentenced to 30 months in prison with an additional three years of supervised release once his term is finished. His wife, Sandi, was sentenced to one year in prison with an additional year of supervised release. The judge made clear that Sandi was sentenced to exactly one year in prison. Prisoners who have sentences of one year or less are not eligible to receive time off for good behavior; often people are sentenced to one year and one day in order to meet that requirement, according to the Chicago Tribune.
"I misled the American people, I misled the House of Representatives," Jackson Jr. said. "I was wrong and I don't fault anyone."
The money that was pilfered from the campaign account was used luxury items including a Rolex watch and furs. It was also used to pay for the private school tuition for Jackson Jr.'s kids, according to the Washington Post.
Defense attorneys implored the judge to sentence Jackson Jr. to less than four years in prison arguing that a long sentence would be detrimental to his mental state as well as being "devastating" to his children. Prior to resigning from the House of Representatives Jackson Jr. disappeared for weeks without a trace. Apparently Jackson Jr. was being treated for depression and suffers from bipolar disorder, according to the Washington Post.
"His public fall from grace has already made an example of him, warning other politicians and elected officials of the dangers of personal use of campaign funds," the defense argued in its sentencing memo.
In a statement before the court Jackson Jr. apologized for his crimes.
"Your honor, throughout this process I've asked the government and the court to hold me and only me accountable for my actions," Jackson Jr. said. "I am the example for the whole Congress. I understand that. I didn't separate my personal life from my political activities, and I couldn't have been more wrong."
Sandi Jackson, a former Chicago alderman, wept while addressing the court.
"I want to begin by apologizing first to my family, to my friends, my community and my constituents for the actions that brought me here today," Jackson said. "My heart breaks every day with the pain this has caused my babies. I ask to be parent, provider and support system that my babies will require in the difficult months ahead."
The two will serve their sentences at separate times so that one of the parents can remain with their children, according to CBS News.
