MIAMI - A Filipino businessman who became a figure in corruption scandals that touched presidents of both the United States and his homeland was sentenced Thursday to more than two years in prison for federal election fraud.
Mark Jimenez contributed illegally to the campaigns of then-President Clinton and other Democrats and was a confidante of Philippine President Joseph Estrada before he was driven from office.
Jimenez was sentenced to 2 years, 3 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $1.2-million restitution on his guilty plea to election conspiracy and tax evasion charges. Jimenez moved home to the Philippines after Clinton was caught up in fundraising scandals. He was elected to the Philippine Congress, but was ousted after his extradition.
Estrada is on trial in the Philippines for allegedly plundering the national treasury.
Jimenez, 56, used money from his Miami company and a closely related one to reimburse employees for illegal donations.
The Federal Election Commission imposed a record $719,000 in fines in a case involving Democrats accused of soliciting illegal contributions from foreigners for the 1996 election in exchange for meetings with Clinton and Vice President Al Gore.
