A judge sentenced a former Maryland state delegate to four years in federal prison for bribery and conspiracy, the U.S. attorney's office said.
A jury convicted Michael Lynn Vaughn, a Democrat from Bowie, of accepting $20,000 in bribes in exchange for voting "yes" on Prince George's County's Sunday liquor sales bill.
Federal prosecutors alleged he accepted cash bribes "influencing the performance of his official duties," including voting for a bill to expand alcohol sales on Sundays.
Vaughn's lawyer insisted his client accepted bundles of money believing they were campaign donations, not bribes.
Vaughn served in the House of Delegates for 14 years before resigning in January 2017 after the corruption investigation became public. He cited health reasons for his resignation.
