Former top Missouri Democrat to be sentenced in federal case

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - A former prosecutor and chairman of Missouri's Democratic Party is set to be sentenced next month for misusing campaign funds for personal expenses and vacations.

The Kansas City Star reports that Mike Sanders faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced Sept. 19 in federal court for conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Sanders had been on a trajectory to run for statewide or congressional office before resigning two years ago as head of Jackson County government. In his guilty plea, Sanders acknowledged converting $62,000 in political campaign funds into cash in a check-cashing scheme involving a disabled friend from high school.

While some of that cash went for political purposes, Sanders admitted using $15,000 to $40,000 of the cashed checks for personal use.

Information from: The Kansas City Star, http://www.kcstar.com