Former D.C. city council member and soon-to-be prisoner Harry Thomas, Jr., is slowly paying back the more than $300,000 in city funds he stole, DCist reports:
D.C. Attorney General Irv Nathan announced yesterday that Thomas has paid another $20,000 back to the city, bringing the total he's repaid so far to $70,000. He still has a ways to go, though—all told, he owes some $230,000 of the more than $300,000 in city funds that he directed to himself.
As part of a civil agreement signed last year, Thomas agreed to start paying back the money in six $50,000 installments. He made one $50,000 payment at the time of the signing, but missed a second payment on December 31, 2011. The $20,000 he most recently paid goes towards that amount, and he'll be charged four percent interest per year on late payments. It's unclear how quickly the rest of payments will come, especially since Thomas is also on the hook for unpaid taxes on the money he stole. (Nathan said he was seeking the proceeds of the sale of an SUV and motorcycle seized by the feds.)
Thomas pleaded guilty to stealing the money earlier this year, and he is scheduled to be sentenced on May 15. He could serve between 37 and 46 months in prison. A special election to fill his seat is set for May 15, and it will cost D.C. taxpayers $318,000.