Former Virginia First Lady Sentenced to 1 Year, 1 Day Jail Term

Feb 20, 2015 10:00 PM EST

(Photo : Reuters) Former Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell's wife Maureen (C) arrives with her daughters for her trial in Richmond, Virginia, July 28, 2014. McDonnell, 60, a Republican once mentioned as a potential presidential candidate, and the former first lady face a 14-count indictment alleging they accepted about $165,000 from a Virginia businessman in exchange for helping his dietary supplement company. REUTERS/Jay Westcott (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS CRIME LAW)

For accepting, together with her husband, Rolexes, dinners and vacations worth about US$165,000 from a businessman, former Virginia First Lady Maureen McDonnell was convicted on nine counts of corruption and sentenced on Friday to one year and one day in prison.

The conviction on corruption charges on Maureen and former Gov. Bob McDonnell was the result of their accepting the gifts from businessman Jonnie Williams in exchange for the couple promoting his company, Star Scientific, reports Huffington Post.

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Star Scientific manufactures the anti-inflammatory medication Antabloc, which is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drugs Administration.

The ex-governor got two years prison term sentence in January for 11 counts of corruption, but he is out of prison since he has appealed the decision. It was lesser than the six and a half years recommended by the prosecution.

Rather than spend time in prison, the former governor wept and begged the jury to allow him to do community service in Haiti instead.

Maureen, in a statement she read before the sentencing, admitted, "My marriage is broken, my family is hurting and my reputation is in shatters," and asked the court to take into account the punishment she had already received.

The prosecution recommended 18 months jail term, while defense sought probation and community service.

Maureen was romantically involved with Williams, whom the governor blamed for breaking their marriage. He also attributed their financial mess to his wife that led the governor to borrow money.

During the trial, witnesses shattered Maureen's image as a refined first lady by providing details about her materialism, badgering the governor's staff and unusual interest in health care supplements.

In sentencing the former Virginia first lady, Federal District Court Judge James Spencer asked, "How can a person become so bedazzled by material possessions that she can no longer see the difference between what's appropriate and inappropriate?," quotes AP.

TagsMaureen McDonnell, Virginia