FRANKFORT, Ky. — Former democratic party chief, Jerry Lundergan, was sentenced to 21 months in a federal prison for orchestrating a multi-year scheme to funnel more than $200,000 unlawful corporate contributions into a campaign for United States Senate Thursday.
Additionally, political powerhouse Lundergan was ordered to pay a fine of $150,000.
The federal campaign finance conviction could have netted more than four years at a minimum. His co-conspirator Dale Emmons is in poor health and the judge cited those concerns for handing down nine months in a halfway house, three years probation and $50,000 in fines.
The defendants were sentenced before judge Gregory Van Tatenhove of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky.
In September 2019, following a five-week trial, a jury convicted Lundergan of one count of conspiracy, one count of making corporate campaign contributions, four counts of causing the submission of false statements to the FEC and four counts of causing the falsification of documents with the intent to obstruct and impede a matter within the FEC’s jurisdiction.
A silent Lundergan family headed to a nearby parking lot after the sentencing was handed down.
Two of his five daughters spoke on their father's behalf in the courtroom, former Sec. of State Alison Lundergan Grimes did not.
According to the evidence presented at trial, Lundergan used the funds of S.R. Holding Company Inc., a company he owned, to pay for services provided by consultants and vendors to a campaign for her US Senate seat in the 2014 election cycle.
"This case should underscore the fundamental principle that breaking the law has consequences," said Robert M. Duncan Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. "The defendants circumvented the campaign finance laws, by knowingly making over $200,000 in unlawful corporate campaign contributions and causing false filings to be submitted to the Federal Election Commission."
Jerry Lundergan apologized in court for disrupting her public service life.
Lundegan's attorney called the case nothing more than a father trying to help his daughter.
"We're appreciative of the court of understanding the quality of character of my client, Jerry Lundegan and varying substantially what the guidelines would have recommended, but as the court noted today we'll be off to the court of appeals," Lundergan's Attorney, Guthrie True said.
Judge Tatenhove called the nearly 90 letters written in support of Lundegan "remarkable," some came from family friends, a priest, former homeless man and a former President, the Lundegan's are close with Bill and Hillary Clinton.
Lundergan Grimes has often referred to the former First Lady as a God mother.
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