Former State Senator State Senator Hiram Monserrate was sentenced to two years in prison today for siphoning over $100,000 in City Council "slush" funds in 2006, which he allegedly used to finance a campaign for higher office. Monserrate, who first gained infamy in 2010 when he was convicted of misdemeanor assault after slashing then-girlfriend Karla Giraldo in the face, pleaded guilty to corruption charges in May. In addition to the 24-month sentence, Monserrate was also ordered to pay approximately $79,434 in restitution.
"Hiram Monserrate was undone by his greed and now will pay the price," said Department of Investigation Commissioner Rose Gill Hearn after the sentencing was announced. "He used a nonprofit’s money to serve his own political career rather than his constituency and with today’s prison sentence will forfeit his freedom."
The Post reports that after the sentence was handed down, Monserrate's ex-girlfriend, Karla Giraldo—the same woman he slashed with broken glass back in the day—was seen in the courtroom kissing and hugging the disgraced politician. He's expected to begin serving his sentence in March, according to the tabloid.
