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Kinde Durkee to be sentenced to prison today in Sacramento.
By Brian Hews
Kinde Durke, the campaign treasurer from Long Beach who was convicted of felony money laundering and raiding at least 50 political campaign committees will be sentenced to prison this morning in Sacramento.
It appears that the 59-year-old will be sentenced to eight years in prison.
The Democratic Party campaign treasurer plead guilty in March to “stealing” at least $7 million from some of the biggest politicians in California and the greater Southeast Los Angeles County area including Rep. Linda R. Sanchez, Rep. Loretta Sanchez and U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein.
At the peak of her career around five years ago, Durkee was one of the most powerful political campaign treasurers in America, and her fall from grace was felt from coast to coast. “She robbed me blind,” Orange County Assemblyman Jose Solario said in an interview at the time of her arrest in September 2011.
“I want to thank the FBI for their diligence in bringing this criminal complaint forward. I hope this unfortunate situation is resolved quickly and everyone involved gets their money back,” Solario previously told Hews Media Group.
Over a 12 year period, Durkee misappropriated millions of dollars from clients and used the money for her own personal use.
“This sentence will reflect the seriousness of the offense, provide just punishment and afford adequate deterrence,” a sentencing memorandum filed by the U.S. attorney’s office stated.
The case was called “by far the largest political embezzlement case in state history” and possibly the “biggest ever seen” by a spokes person at the Federal Elections Commission.
The formal sentencing is expected to take place at 11 a.m., it is not know what political figures will be attending the proceedings.
Many legal experts believe that Durkee could be immediately placed in custody and sent to prison.
Back in September of 2011, members of the FBI and US Department of Justice told Hews Media Group that the case was “the tip of the iceberg,” and that “additional indictments could follow.” Since then, no additional arrests were made in the case.
HMG has compiled a list of those political committees, candidates and elected officials who fell prey to Durkee’s scheme. They include:
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