Former state senator Karen Carter Peterson received a 22-month prison sentence today after admitting she used more than 140-thousand dollars in campaign funds from her own campaign and the Democratic Party to feed a gambling addiction. Loyola Law Professor Dane Ciolino says the federal sentencing guideline called for a sentence between 41 and 51 months
“It is rare in deed for federal judges to give substantial downward departures from the applicable guidelines,” said Ciolino.
Peterson’s attorneys pushed U-S District Judge Sarah Vance to sentence the former lawmaker to probation or home confinement. They touted her Christian faith, admission of guilt and the treatment she’s receiving for her gambling addiction. Ciolino says Peterson’s punishment could have been more serve…
“She got the benefit of a downward departure which few federal criminal defendants get,” said Ciolino.
Judge Vance has ordered Peterson to report to jail on March 6th. Ciolino says Peterson will spend at least a year and a half in prison.
“She will get the benefit of good time, perhaps get out about 58% earlier than she otherwise would but she’s going to have to do the vast majority of that in jail, and there will be period of supervised release when she gets out,” said Ciolino.
Peterson abruptly resigned from the state senate last year, citing depression and a gambling addiction. She served in the state legislature from 1999 to 2022 and as chair of the Louisiana Democratic party from 2012 to 2020.
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