Former Republican aide sentenced to 1 year in prison

[Judi Lynn]

Former Republican aide sentenced to 1 year in prison

By Jeff Coen and Matt O'Connor
Tribune staff reporters
Published July 12, 2006, 9:48 PM CDT


Michael Tristano, a one-time chief of staff to former Republican House leader Lee Daniels of Elmhurst, was sentenced Wednesday to a year and a day in prison for assigning legislative staffers to do campaign work on state time.

"I failed both ethically and as a leader," Tristano, 58, told U.S. District Judge Charles Norgle.

Tristano pleaded guilty to a fraud charge in March and admitted that his work to steer state resources to Republican candidates cost Illinois up to $200,000.

The sentencing and court documents reviewed by the Tribune provided new evidence that Daniels has long been a target of the investigation, though he has never been charged.
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http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/custom/newsroom/chi-060712tristano,1,2798840.story?coll=chi-news-hed



Michael Tristano