Babulal Bera, a retired chemical engineer who emigrated from India and watched his oldest son win election to the U.S. House of Representatives, was sentenced Thursday to one year and one day in federal prison for organizing a money-laundering scheme that helped fund two of his son’s campaigns.
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Democratic U.S. Rep. Ami Bera of Elk Grove was not charged and has denied knowing about his father’s activities.
He did it again for his son’s successful 2012 campaign, when Bera defeated Republican Congressman Dan Lungren.
Because of Babulal Bera’s advanced age and associated health issues, the court imposed the sentence recommended by prosecutors.
Earlier this week, Jones proposed campaign finance reforms clearly aimed at Bera that would require candidates to disclose if donors are relatives, report donations more frequently and make a “best effort” to ensure that donors who contribute maximum amounts for the first time understand campaign finance laws.
“This is one of the most hard moments my family has ever experienced”, Ami Bera said in a statement.
Bera is now facing a re-election campaign against Sacramento Sheriff Scott Jones to keep his vulnerable swing seat in the state’s 7th congressional district.
The maximum prison sentence for each of Bera’s two felony counts is five years.
The District Court gave thorough and thoughtful consideration to the arguments of both parties in imposing sentence, says Acting U.S. Attorney Phillip Talbert. “I am sorry to hear that at 83 years old, Mr. Bera will be going to prison for a crime I do not believe he alone is responsible for”.
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Before he was sentenced, Babulal Bera asked the court to consider an option for him to stay with his 82-year-old wife, CBS Sacramento reported.
