US President Donald Trump's ex-campaign chairman Paul Manafort has been sentenced to 47 months in prison after being found guilty last year of eight felony crimes.
Manafort was found guilty last year on eight counts, including tax fraud, bank fraud and failing to file a foreign bank account report.
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It was found he hid much of the millions he earned working for a pro-Russian politician in Ukraine in undisclosed overseas bank accounts. He also subsequently failed to pay tax on the money.
Manafort, whose has been kept in jail since June last year, reportedly arrived to the Alexandria, Virigina court in a wheelchair and dressed in a green jumpsuit.
On top of the 47 months in jail, Manafort must also pay at least $6 million in restitution to the US Government and will have to serve a three-year supervised release when he exits prison.
His trial stemmed from charges lodged by Special Counsel Robert Mueller during his investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 US presidential election.
More than 30 people have since been indicted or a secured guilty plea from Mr Mueller since the investigation began in 2017.
The sentence of just under 4 years is significantly lower than the 24 years that Mr Mueller had recommended.
CNN reports that Judge T.S Ellis called that reccomendation "excessive" and that Manafort had "lived an otherwise blameless life" and was a generous friend.
"I'm convinced that's a just sentence for that conduct," he said.
Before the sentencing, Judge Ellis reportedly told a CNN journalist that Manafort was not being sentenced for anything related to Mr Mueller's investigation.
The Washington Post report that Judge Ellis has previously voiced scepticism about Mr Mueller's investigation.
Manafort's defence lawyers had said a sentence of up to five and a half years would have been appropriate.
"The special counsel’s attempt to vilify Mr Manafort as a lifelong and irredeemable felon is beyond the pale and grossly overstates the facts before this court," his lawyers wrote in their sentencing memo before the Friday court date.
Manafort will also face a second sentencing in Washington on March 13 on two conspiracy charges.
The Judge in that case, Amy Jackson, could stack any prison sentence resulting from it onto the 47 month prison sentence, instead of letting them run concurrently.
Manafort had attempted to avoid the second trial through a plea deal by admitting his crimes, but that was scrapped after Mr Mueller found Manafort was continuing to lie to investigators.
The special prosecutor has said Manafort's lies should be considered during sentencing.
Newshub.
