A Washington, D.C., businessman who ran an illegal shadow campaign for the city's former Democratic mayor was released from federal prison on Wednesday after serving a three-month sentence.
Jeffrey Thompson admitted to setting up a $660,000 political apparatus to help elect former Mayor Vincent Gray in 2010. Gray, who was recently elected to a city council seat, has denied any wrongdoing in the scheme.
NBC's Washington affiliate reports that the Thompson's three-month jail sentence was a significant increase over the sentence requested even by the prosecution in the case.
At the time of his sentencing, the defense asked for two years probation and 1,200 hours of community service, citing Thompson's cooperation with the investigation and noting how he has lost his businesses and his standing in the community. The prosecution also did not seek prison time, asking for six months home confinement and the fine.
But the judge said Thompson's downfall was not enough of a deterrent to others and called him the mastermind of the scheme who tried to obstruct the investigation once he was caught.
He was sentenced to three months in prison followed by three months of home confinement. Thompson was also fined $10,000.
Thompson's illegal shadow campaign also financed get-out-the-vote operations in four states for Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign, prosecutors said.
Minyon Moore, a Democratic consultant who worked closely with both of Clinton's failed presidential campaigns, allegedly solicited money for Thompson's illegal campaign apparatus. She was never charged with a crime.