Former Rep. Richard Miranda sentenced for defrauding nonprofit

June 04, 2012

Former State Rep. Richard Miranda has been sentenced to more than two years in prison for stealing from the charity he once ran. Miranda, a Tolleson Democrat, suddenly resigned from the Arizona Legislature in February, citing family and health reasons. In March, he pleaded guilty to wire fraud and tax evasion. Miranda stole about $145,000 from the nonprofit he used to run, Centro Adelante Campesino in Tolleson.

Under a plea deal with prosecutors, Miranda faced a maximum of 27 months in prison; and Monday, that’s just what U.S. District Judge Roslyn Silver sentenced him to. About 20 current and former legislators wrote letters voicing their support and urging a lenient sentence, but Silver rejected those requests, saying that Miranda abused positions of trust.