Ex-Bloomberg consultant sentenced to prison in case of NYC mayor's stolen funds

By: Casey Glynn
Topics: Daily Blotter

John Haggerty, charged with bilking New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg out of more than $1 million, leaves criminal court in New York.

(Credit: AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

(CBS/AP) NEW YORK - A political operative convicted of bamboozling NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg out of hundreds of thousands of dollars during a reelection campaign was sentenced to prison Monday, in a case that brought the billionaire mayor to the witness stand and gave the public a behind-the-scenes look at his campaign and City Hall.

John Haggerty, 42, agreed to pay $750,000 in restitution to Bloomberg in addition to his prison term of 1 1/3 to 4 years.

The veteran Republican consultant was convicted in October of grand larceny and other charges. He was acquitted of a higher-level grand larceny count.

Although Haggerty could have been sentenced to probation, State Supreme Court Justice Ronald Zweibel said he felt the prison sentence was necessary "to restore the public's confidence in the electoral process and to serve as a deterrent."

Haggerty's lawyers said they planned to ask an appeals court to let him out on bail during a planned appeal.

Prosecutors said Haggerty conned the billionaire mayor into giving the state Independence Party $1.1 million to underwrite poll-monitoring in 2009. Bloomberg was running for re-election. Prosecutors say Haggerty did little work and used most of the money to buy a house.

Haggerty's lawyers say the mayor and party got the operation they wanted.

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