Former state lawmaker sentenced for campaign fund fraud

A former top Nevada Democratic lawmaker was sentenced today to more than two years in federal prison and fined almost $250,000 for misusing campaign funds to pay personal bills and open a downtown Las Vegas nightclub where he hosted political fundraisers.

Ex-Senate Majority Leader Kelvin Atkinson told U.S. District Judge James Mahan in Las Vegas he was embarrassed, and called his fall from grace after 17 years in elected office "regrettable" and "unfortunate."

"I have spent a long time building my life up to be the person I am today. The fall has been quite daunting," Atkinson said. He wore a characteristic bowtie and dark suit as he stood with his attorney Richard Wright backed by more than 25 supporters in the courtroom a gallery.

"This is an unhappy day," Mahan responded after Wright acknowledged that Atkinson co-mingled, misappropriated, embezzled, stole and improperly used at least $195,000 in contributions while he was in the state Assembly and Senate.

Read more: https://lasvegassun.com/news/2019/jul/18/ex-lawmaker-sentenced-in-campaign-funds-case/