A former aide to a state lawmaker has been sentenced to a year and a half in federal prison on convictions of misuse of state grant money.
Fifty-eight-year-old Lorraine DiSpaldo, an aide to Democratic state Rep. William Keller, pleaded guilty earlier this year to mail and wire fraud, conspiracy, bankruptcy fraud and tax counts.
- READ: Federal Fraud Indictment
Authorities said she and a now-suspended Philadelphia traffic court judge, Robert Mulgrew, signed grant applications for two community organizations that prosecutors alleged funneled money to friends and relatives.
DiSpaldo said in court Monday that she was “deeply remorseful.” Her attorney sought home confinement, saying her client had “lost everything” except the love of her family.
U.S. District Judge C. Darnell Jones II also ordered DiSpaldo to pay $121,000 in restitution.
Keller hasn't been charged with any crime.
