TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A former Kansas legislator has been sentenced to 18 months in jail for defrauding a bank to help fund his political activities.
Former Republican state Rep. Trent LeDoux was sentenced Monday. LeDoux pleaded guilty last May and was ordered to pay about $461,000 in restitution to the bank under a deal with federal prosecutors.
LeDoux allegedly obtained three bank loans to buy cattle, but failed to make payments and deposited $28,000 from the loans into his campaign account in late 2011 and 2012.
He said after the sentencing hearing that he is truly sorry for his actions.
Farmers & Merchants Bank President Brent Wiedeman approved the loans and testified at the hearing for stiffer punishment. He said it would take the bank years to recover its losses from the fraud.
