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.