(AP) - The father of a California congressman has been sentenced to a year in prison for illegally funneling nearly $270,000 in campaign contributions to his son's campaigns.
The U.S. Attorney's Office in Sacramento says a federal judge also fined Babulal Bera $100,000 on Thursday for violating federal election laws.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Ami Bera of Elk Grove is not charged and has denied knowing of his father's activities. Prosecutors say they don't believe he was involved.
The elder Bera admitted that he arranged for friends, relatives and acquaintances to contribute to his son's failed 2010 campaign. He then illegally reimbursed the donors.
He did it again for his son's successful 2012 campaign, when Bera defeated Republican Congressman Dan Lungren.
Bera is running for re-election against Republican Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones.
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