Former Rep. Steve Stockman, R-Texas, was found guilty of fraud and corruption charges Thursday.
A jury convicted Stockman of 23 of the 24 counts, according to reports. Stockman had been on trial in federal court for three weeks on corruption charges.
He will be sentenced in August.
The Texas Republican was accused of using $1.25 million in charitable donations funneled through nonprofit organizations to pay for campaign and personal expenses. Stockman, along with two former aides, used the money to finance the former congressman’s 2012 campaign, to conduct surveillance on a perceived political opponent, and to make payments related to Stockman’s 2014 Senate campaign, according to the Justice Department.
Stockman’s lawyers said the donations from two major conservative donors were intended to be used as campaign contributions. Lawyers for the Clear Lake, Texas, Republican also said the pair of donors gave Stockman discretion with how to use the money.
Stockman faces decades in prison, according to the Texas Tribune.
The former congressman and an aide, Jason Posey, were indicted on corruption charges in March 2017 for attempting to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from charitable organizations. The 28-count superseding indictment included charges of mail and wire fraud, conspiracy, making false statements to the Federal Election Commission, and money laundering, according to the Justice Department.
Posey pleaded guilty to one count each of wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering in October 2017. He faces up to 45 years in prison, the Justice Department said.
Another former aide to Stockman, Thomas Dodd, pleaded guilty for his involvement in the scheme in March 2017.
The jury in the case involving Stockman deliberated for roughly two days before delivering its guilty verdict.
Stockman served two terms in the House from 2013 to 2015. In 2014, he unsuccessfully challenged Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas.
