Columbia's longest serving councilman is sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison.
/ File
COLUMBIA (WACH) -- Columbia's longest serving councilman was sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison Friday.
The sentence for E.W. Cromartie II was handed down during a sentencing hearing in Columbia. Cromartie will also pay a $58,000 fine and self-report to prison.
"We believe it was important that he go to jail," explained U.S. Attorney Mark Moore. "We believe that sennds a message that no matter who you are, if you commit a crime you should be punished."
Cromartie pleaded guilty in April to one count of income tax evasion and two counts of aggravated structuring.
In March, he admitted failing to pay more than $25,000 in federal income taxes, and a plea agreement shows Cromartie also admitted making more than $200,000 in cash deposits and withdrawals just below the IRS minimums for transaction reporting rules.
"He is disappointed with his own conduct and the consequences of his actiona, and this is not just some fabrication," Cromartie's attorney I.S. Leevy Johnson said after the sentence was handed down.
Cromartie served on the council for more than 25 years.
He and prosecutors previously agreed a sentence of one year and one day would be appropriate.
WACH Fox News will be at today's hearing and bring you the latest developments.
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