Disgraced NY politician gets prison after raiding public funds

AP Photo: Mary Altaffer, File. Prison sentence: Former New York state Sen. Hiram Monserrate, center, is joined by attorneys. IMAGE

12/11/12

The former police officer was elected to the state Senate in 2008.

NEW YORK — A disgraced New York politician will spend two years in prison for using taxpayer money to fund his 2006 campaign.

Queens Democrat Hiram Monserrate was sentenced Tuesday in Manhattan federal court. He pleaded guilty to fraud charges in May.

Prosecutors said Monserrate secretly funneled about $100,000 to his failed state Senate primary bid. The money was meant for community programs. At the time, he was on the City Council.

After losing the 2006 race, the former New York Police Department officer was elected to the state Senate in 2008. He was expelled two years later following a misdemeanor conviction for assaulting his girlfriend.

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