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Convictions Upheld For Former Arizona Congressman

A federal appeals court has upheld the public corruption and money laundering convictions of former Republican Arizona Congressman Rick Renzi.

Renzi had asked the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn his 2013 wire fraud, extortion and racketeering convictions.

But a three-judge panel declined to throw out either the convictions or his resulting three-year prison sentence.

According to evidence presented in the trial, Renzi promised to use his legislative influence to profit from a federal land exchange that involved property owned by a co-defendant, who was also convicted for his role in the land deal.

Renzi represented Arizona’s sprawling 1st Congressional District from early 2003 until early 2009. He chose not to run for re-election.

Prosecutors alleged Renzi looted a family insurance business to help pay for his 2002 election campaign, but he was not convicted of illegally using money from the firm.

Renzi has been behind bars since January of this year.

Dennis Lambert was a morning host at KJZZ.