Former Fresno congressman TJ Cox has been sentenced to 1 year in federal prison, his attorney says

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Former Valley Congressman TJ Cox is present heading to national situation for a twelvemonth and 1 day.

A national justice sentenced Cox successful Fresno precocious Monday evening aft a tribunal proceeding that lasted hours.

Cox requested probation and location confinement aft pleading blameworthy to 2 counts of ligament fraud.

Court documents uncover Cox created amerciable slope accounts implicit the people of 5 years earlier helium entered Congress. Prosecutors accidental helium utilized them to funnel lawsuit and institution money, each portion securing a $1.5 cardinal indebtedness to make Granite Park successful Central Fresno.

The justice connected Monday called it "sophisticated" and told Cox helium kept connected digging himself deeper.

"Yes, helium did things that were incorrect and illegal," defence lawyer Mark Coleman told Action News. "He moved wealth betwixt 1 steadfast to different steadfast to screen expenses and to support the businesses going. And yes, helium besides utilized immoderate of that wealth for idiosyncratic expenses, but thing lavish astatine all."

Coleman said the lawsuit is simply a "fall from grace" for Cox.

In 2018, Cox ousted Congressman David Valadao successful the South Valley, flipping the spot from a Republican to a Democrat successful a large upset with nationalist implications.

The justice said determination is nary question that Cox has done "a batch of bully things," but said it is besides wide helium took "intricate" steps to disguise his crimes.

Cox present reports to national situation connected May 27 aft Coleman called the situation condemnation a "home run."

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