List of 1980s American state and local politicians convicted of crimes

This list includes American politicians at the state and local levels who have been convicted of felony crimes committed while in office by decade; this list encompasses the 1980s.

At the bottom of the article are links to related articles which deal with politicians who are involved in federal scandals (political and sexual), as well as differentiating among federal, state and local convictions. Also excluded are crimes which occur outside the politician's tenure in office unless they specifically stem from acts during his or her time of service.

Entries are arranged by date, from most current to less recent, and by state.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Alabama

• State Representative Thomas Reed (D) convicted of bribery (1988) ^[1]

Local

• Party Leader of the National States' Rights Party J. B. Stoner (D) convicted of 1958 bombing of the Bethel Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. ^[2]

Alaska

• State Senator Paul Fischer (R), pled guilty to misuse of state funds and taking illegal campaign contributions from an oil-field construction company. (1989) ^{[3] [4]}
• State Senator George Hohman (D) State Senator, bribed to obtain a water-bomber aircraft for the state. Sentenced to 3 years and fined $30,000. (1982) ^{[5] [6]}

Arizona

• Governor of Arizona Evan Mecham (R) was found guilty of obstruction of justice and misuse of government funds. (1988) ^[7]

Arkansas

• State Representative Preston Bynum (R) convicted of bribery. (1980) ^{[8] [9]}

California

• Several officials were caught up in the BRISPEC sting operation. ^[10] The officials include:
  • Board of Equalization Member Paul B. Carpenter (D)
  • State Senator Joseph B. Montoya (D)
  • State Senator Alan Robbins (D)
  • State Senator Frank C. Hill (R)
  • Assemblymember Pat Nolan (R)

Local

• Chief Administrative Officer of San Francisco Roger Boas (D) convicted of rape. (1988) ^{[11] [12]}

Florida

• State Representative Don Gaffney (D) convicted of extortion. (1989) ^[13]

Hawaii

• State Representative Clifford Uwaine (D) convicted of conspiracy. (1982) ^[14]

Illinois

• Governor of Illinois Dan Walker (D) was convicted of improprieties stemming from loans from a Savings and Loan. He served 18 months in prison. (1987) ^[15]
• State Senator Edward Nedza (D) convicted of fraud. (1987) ^{[16] [17]}
• Attorney General of Illinois William J. Scott (R) was convicted of tax fraud and sentenced to a year in prison. (1980) ^[18]

Local

• Alderman of Chicago Marian Humes (D) convicted of bribery. (1989) ^[19]
• Alderman of Chicago Perry Hutchinson (D) convicted of bribery. (1988) ^[19]
• Alderman of Chicago Chester Kuta (D) convicted of bribery. (1987) ^[19]
• Alderman of Chicago Wallace David Jr (D) convicted of bribery. (1987) ^[19]
• Alderman of Chicago Clifford Kelley (D) convicted of corruption. (1987) ^[19]
• Alderman of Chicago Louis Farina (D) convicted of extortion. (1983) ^[19]
• Alderman of Chicago Tyrone Kenner (D) convicted of bribery. (1983) ^[19]
• Alderman of Chicago William Carothers (D) convicted of extortion. (1983) ^[19]
• Alderman of Chicago Stanley Zydlo (D) convicted of extortion. (1980) ^[19]

Louisiana

• President of the Louisiana State Senate Michael Hanley O'Keefe, Sr. (D) jailed for mail fraud. (1983) ^[20] In February 1983, he was convicted of mail fraud and two counts of obstruction of justice. ^[21]
• State Agriculture Commissioner Gil Dozier (D) was convicted of extortion and racketeering and jury tampering. (1982) ^[22]
• State Senator Gaston Gerald (D) convicted of bribery. (1981) ^[22]

Maine

• State Representative Donald F. Sproul (R) was sentenced to 10 days in prison for ballot tampering. ^[23]

Massachusetts

• Transportation Secretary Barry Locke (D) was convicted of conspiring to take payoffs as part of a kickback scheme at the MBTA. (1982) ^[24]

Michigan

• State Senator Jerry C. Diggs (D) accepting bribes to kill taxes on race track revenue; He was tried, convicted, and sentenced (1983) ^[25]

Nebraska

• Attorney General Paul L. Douglas (R) was convicted of perjury and resigned. (1984) ^{[26] [27]}
• State Senator James Pappas (R) from North Platte was charged with circulating a petition in a county in which he was not qualified and lying about it. He was found guilty, fined and placed on probation for two years. (1986) ^{[28] [29]}

New Hampshire

• State Representative Vincent Palumbo (R) pled guilty to bank fraud and tax evasion. He was sentenced to more than a year (1989) ^{[30] [31] [32]}

New Jersey

Local

• Mayor of Newark Kenneth A. Gibson (D) was convicted of bribery and for stealing funds from a school construction. (1986) ^[33]

New York

• State Senator Richard E. Schermerhorn (R) was convicted of income-tax evasion, obstruction of justice and filing a false statement. Sentenced to 18 months in prison. (1989) ^[34]
• State Senator William C. Brennan (D) convicted of bribery. (1984) ^{[35] [36]}
• State Senator Joseph R. Pisani (R) was convicted of multiple counts of fraud and tax evasion, most of which were overturned on appeal. The Appeals Court upheld one conviction for taking money from an escrow account from his client. (1983) ^[37] In 1986, Pisani pleaded guilty to other charges of tax evasion, and was sentenced to one year in prison. ^[38]

Oregon

• State Senator Bill Olson (R) pleaded guilty to second-degree sex abuse with a 13-year-old female. (1988) ^{[39] [40]}

Pennsylvania

• Pennsylvania Auditor General Al Benedict (D) convicted of racketeering. (1988) ^[41]
• State Treasurer R. Budd Dwyer (R) was convicted of bribery. (1987) ^{[42] [43]}

Local

• President of the Philadelphia City Council George X. Schwartz (D) was convicted of taking bribes. (1985) ^[33]
• Member of the Philadelphia City Council Harry Jannotti (D) was convicted of taking bribes. (1985) ^[33]
• Member of the Philadelphia City Council Louis Johanson (D) was convicted of taking bribes. (1985) ^[33]

Tennessee

• FBI investigation Operation Rocky Top concerned the illegal sale of charity bingo licenses which resulted in over 50 convictions. ^[44] Two targets of the investigation committed suicide: Tennessee Secretary of State Gentry Crowell (D) (in December 1989, just before he was scheduled to testify for a third time before a federal grand jury) and long-time State Representative Ted Ray Miller (D) (after being charged with bribery). (1986)
• Governor of Tennessee Ray Blanton (D) convicted of wire fraud and sentenced to 22 months. (1982) ^[45]
• State Representative Emmitt Ford (D) was convicted of fraud. (1981) ^[46]
• State Representative Tommy Burnett (D) jailed for 10 months for tax evasion. (1983) ^[47]
• State Representative Robert J. Fisher (R), was convicted of soliciting a $1,000 bribe from Carter County Sheriff George Papantoniou to kill a state bill the sheriff opposed. Fisher was given a $500 fine and a 30-day suspended sentence and was expelled from the State Senate by a vote of 92–1 (1980) ^{[48] [49]}

Texas

• State Representative Mike Martin (R) from Longview, hired his cousin to shoot him as a publicity stunt. He pleaded guilty to perjury and paid a $2,000 fine on the condition that he also resign. (1982) ^[50]

Vermont

Local

• Assistant Judge Jane Wheel of Chittenden County was convicted of three counts of falsifying court records so she could claim pay for days she had not actually worked. She was sentenced to one to three years in prison on each count, with all but 45 days suspended, plus 1,500 hours of community service. (1987) ^[51] Wheel's investigation was part of a larger investigation into possible corruption among members of the Vermont Supreme Court. ^[51] (1988) (See also Vermont vs Hunt (1982).)

Washington

• State Senator Gordon Walgren (D) convicted of violating the Travel Act during the investigation called GAMSCAM. (1980) ^{[52] [53]}
• State Representative John A. Bagnariol (D) was convicted of racketeering charges during the investigation called GAMSCAM. (1980 ^[54]

Wisconsin

• State Senator Richard Shoemaker (D) convicted of receiving illegal money. (1988) ^[55]
• State Assemblyman Walter L. Ward, Jr. (D) convicted of sexual assault. (1980) ^[55]

West Virginia

• State Senator Dan R. Tonkovich (D) pleaded guilty to extorting $5,000 from gambling interests. He was sentenced to five years in prison. (1989) ^{[56] [57]}
• State Senate Larry Tucker (D) extorted $10,000 from a lobbyist, resigned and pleaded guilty. (1989) ^{[57] [58]}

See also

• List of federal political scandals in the United States
• List of federal political sex scandals in the United States

Federal politicians:

• List of American federal politicians convicted of crimes
• List of United States representatives expelled, censured, or reprimanded
• List of United States senators expelled or censured

References

1. "Bribery conviction upheld". The Anniston Star . October 6, 1989. pp. 13A. Archived from the original on August 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
2. Martin, Douglas (2005-04-29). "J. B. Stoner, 81, Fervent Racist and Benchmark for Extremism, Dies". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2024-03-08.
3. "Disciplinary Cases in Other State Legislatures – Briefing Report on Expulsion, Cnsure, Reprimand, or No Action". cga.ct.gov. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
4. Jones, Stan (November 28, 1995). "APOC Charges Former Senator". Anchorage Daily News.^{[ permanent dead link ]}
5. "Hohman v. State". Justia Law.
6. "Our Campaigns – AK Lt. Governor – Open Primary Race – Aug 22, 1978". ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
7. Sullivan, Patricia (February 23, 2008). "Evan Mecham, 83; Was Removed as Arizona Governor". The Washington Post.
8. "Bond-Bribery Guilty Pleas". The New York Times. March 4, 1995. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
9. "Lobbyist Is Barred in Civil Fraud Case". The New York Times. May 25, 1995. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
10. Gladstone, Mark; Jacobs, Paul. "The G-Man, the Shrimp Scam and Sacramento's Big Sting : FBI agent James Wedick's undercover operation netted 14 public officials. But has it changed the way the state legislature works?". Los Angeles Times. No. 11 December 1994. Retrieved 12 May 2018.
11. "Ex-Official in Vice Plea Bargain ," The New York Times, October 22, 1988. Retrieved June 21, 2008.
12. "Former Official Sentenced," The New York Times, November 19, 1988. Retrieved June 21, 2008.
13. "Don Gaffney, former Jacksonville lawmaker convicted of mail fraud, running for seat in Florida Legislature". jacksonville.com. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
14. "Honolulu Star-Bulletin Hawaii News". archives.starbulletin.com. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
15. The Associated Press. William C. Hidlay. Former Governor Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison. November 20, 1987.
16. 'Illinois Blue Book 18984-1986, Biographical Sketch of Edward A. Nedza, pg. 68
17. 'Nedza Convicted Of Extortion,' Chicago Tribune, William B. Crawford, Jr., August 14, 1978
18. "Ex-attorney General William J. Scott". Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on October 25, 2014. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
19. "A Look At Chicago's Corrupt Aldermen Through The Years". cbslocal.com. January 3, 2019. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
20. "Membership of the Louisiana Senate" (PDF). senate.la.gov. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
21. "Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board: O'Keefe, Michael H." ladb.org. Archived from the original on June 24, 2013. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
22. "theadvocate.com, Capitol news bureau, Sept. 26, 2013". Theadvocate.com. Archived from the original on October 18, 2014. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
23. The Boston Globe, July 28, 1988, "Ex-Maine Lawmaker Begins Jail Term" by Associated Press.
24. "Ex-transit chief convicted in kickback scheme". Associated Press. February 2, 1982. Retrieved August 11, 2011.
25. Rubenstein, Bruce A.; Ziewacz, Lawrence E. (April 30, 1995). Payoffs in the Cloakroom. MSU Press. ISBN   9780870139505 . Retrieved October 25, 2014.
26. Beck, Margery (26 June 2004). "Senator arrested, accused of fraud". JournalStar.com. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
27. "State v. Douglas". Justia Law.
28. Howard, Ed (September 8, 1986). "Seven Indicted in Lottery Petition Drive". Associated Press News. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
29. "STATE v. PAPPAS - 424 N.W.2d 604 (1988) - w2d60411007 - Leagle.com". Leagle. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
30. Rayno, Garry (March 5, 2016). "Garry Rayno's State House Dome: A brief history of NH lawmaker resignations". The Union Leader (Manchester, N.H.). Archived from the original on January 9, 2018. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
31. "Flotsam & Jetsam". June 1, 2012.
32. "Ex-State Rep. Vincent Palumbo jailed for tax violations". seacoastonline.com. Associated Press. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
33. Fried, Joseph P. (January 30, 2005). "Four-Term Newark Leader Won't Second-Guess Mayor". The New York Times . Retrieved January 10, 2017.
34. "Published: June 23, 1995, Richard E. Schermerhorn, 67, A State Senator for Nine Terms". The New York Times .
35. "State Judge in Queens is Accused of Accepting Bribes to Fix Cases". The New York Times . July 26, 1985. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
36. "Trial date is Set in Bribery Case Against Justice". The New York Times . August 1, 1985. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
37. "Ex-Legislatror Wins Reversal of Conviction". The New York Times . September 13, 1985. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
38. "Ex-State Senator Gets Jail Term After Guilty Plea on Tax Evasion". The New York Times . July 29, 1986. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
39. "Eugene Register-Guard – Google News Archive Search" . Retrieved January 10, 2017.
40. "Google News" . Retrieved April 16, 2019.
41. "A guide to Pa.'s long history of government corruption | PennLive.com". pennlive.com. July 5, 2016. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
42. Stevens, William K. (January 23, 1987). "Official calls in press and kills himself". The New York Times . Retrieved September 11, 2008.
43. Stevens, William K. (January 23, 1987). "Official Calls in Press and Kills Himself". The New York Times . Retrieved January 10, 2017.
44. Tom Humphrey, Humphrey: Waltz – Don't leave with those who bribed you, Knoxville News Sentinel (opinion column), July 22, 2007.
45. Fred Rolater, "Leonard Ray Blanton," Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture, 2009. Retrieved December 31, 2012
46. Veazey, Kyle (November 11, 2014). "Former state representative Emmitt Ford, 70, dies". Commercial Appeal . Retrieved November 12, 2014.
47. Whitehouse, Ken (September 19, 2009). "State bids farewell to legendary legislator Tommy Burnett". Nashville Post. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
48. "Fisher, Robert J., Trial Records, 1979–1980, Representing House District # 4".
49. "The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee on January 15, 1980 · Page 1". January 15, 1980. Retrieved April 16, 2019– via Newspapers.com.
50. "Martin pleads guilty, resigns House seat". The Bonham Daily Favourite. Associated Press. April 23, 1982. Retrieved January 7, 2012.
51. Dennison, Meg (June 28, 1988). "Ex-Judge Wheel Gets Jail Term" . Burlington Free Press . Burlington, VT. Associated Press. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
52. United States v. Bagnariol, 665 F.2d 877 (9th Cir. 1981).
53. "Legislative leaders John Bagnariol and Gordon Walgren are charged in Gamscam case on April 2, 1980. - HistoryLink.org". historylink.org. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
54. Gilmore, Susan (December 7, 2009). "John Bagnariol, former state House speaker and Gamscam figure, dies". The Seattle Times.
55. "21 state lawmakers convicted of crimes in past 35 years | Politics and Elections | host.madison.com". host.madison.com. 26 November 2014. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
56. "Our Campaigns – Candidate – Dan Tonkovich". ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
57. Jr, B. Drummond Ayres (September 18, 1989). "Charleston Journal – Corruption Cases Leave State in Search of Ethics". The New York Times . Retrieved January 10, 2017.
58. "Sunday Times-Sentinel – Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.