John Haggerty, Former Bloomberg Campaign Aide, Begins Prison Sentence
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Republican political operative John Haggerty, convicted of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, was out of excuses as he was handcuffed and led from court to prison Monday, WCBS 880's Irene Cornell reported.
Earlier this month, he was given a two-week reprieve before he began his prison sentence, Cornell reported. Haggerty was scheduled to turn himself in July 7, but was given the extra time because he told the court he was caring for an elderly aunt who had surgery. The prosecutor suggested he was manipulating the court the same way he had manipulated the former mayor.
John Haggerty, Former Bloomberg Campaign Aide, Reports For Prison Sentence
Haggerty, 45, has been sentenced to 1 1/3 to 4 years behind bars. He has already paid back the full restitution of $750,000.
Haggerty had promised to run an elaborate poll-watching operation for Bloomberg in 2009. The poll watchers, however, were never hired, and Haggerty instead used the money to buy a house. His attorney argued that it was a crime of emotion — Haggerty was trying to hold on to his childhood home in Queens.
The prosecutor argued that Haggerty could have taken out a loan, but he chose to steal from Bloomberg, a billionaire, thinking his campaign would not notice.
On appeal, Haggerty unsuccessfully argued that the trial court should have required original documents proving the money belonged to Bloomberg, rather than relying on the testimony of a lawyer for the campaign trust.
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