Ex-Pennsylvania Rep. Chaka Fattah sentenced to 10 years over corruption

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- Former Rep. Chaka Fattah, D-Pa., who was convicted in June of federal corruption charges, was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison.

Prosecutors had called for Fattah, 60, to be sentenced to up to 22 years in prison. Fattah resigned from the House of Representatives after being convicted of more than 20 counts of corruption, including conspiracy to commit racketeering, wire fraud, mail fraud, falsifying records, bribery, bank fraud, money laundering and making false statements to financial institutions.

"The investigation and the trial has been the most disappointing event in my now 60-year life," Fattah told U.S. District Judge Harvey Bartle III during court. "I've helped tens of millions of people and that has nothing to do with the fact that I have been found on the wrong side of these questions by a jury."

Fattah repeatedly bribed others and stole campaign contributions, charitable donations and federal grant money, prosecutors said. He represented Pennsylvania's 2nd Congressional District since his election in 1994 after serving in Pennsylvania's House and Senate for 12 years.

Fattah will pay $614,000 in damages and will be supervised for three years after his release. He was ordered to report to prison in January.

Fattah's son, Chaka Fattah Jr., is serving a five-year prison sentence for defrauding Philadelphia banks and the IRS to cover gambling debts and other personal expenses.

Doug G. Ware contributed to this report.