Former Missouri lawmaker gets 21 months in prison for misusing campaign funds [View all]

ST. LOUIS — Former state Rep. Courtney Curtis was sentenced Wednesday to 21 months in prison for misusing campaign funds for personal expenses and also was ordered to repay $47,867.

Curtis, 39, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in November to three counts of wire fraud and admitted defrauding campaign donors by using approximately $47,000 for personal expenses in 2016 and 2017. He then filed false campaign finance reports to cover up his crimes.

Federal sentencing guidelines recommended 15 to 21 months in prison, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Goldsmith asked for a sentence in that range.

Curtis’ lawyer, John Stobbs, asked for six months of house arrest and probation, saying Curtis was well-respected in the community and worked hard in the Legislature, but was not adept at managing campaign money.

Read more: https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/former-missouri-lawmaker-gets-21-months-in-prison-for-misusing-campaign-funds/article_2406dca3-3de4-51e3-92a6-a36dadfa9960.html