Ex-Missouri house speaker sentenced 21 months for misusing Covid relief funds
John Diehl admitted using federal pandemic loans for country club dues, cars and other personal expenses
A former Missouri state house speaker was sentenced Monday to 21 months in prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud for misusing federal Covid-19 relief funds for his personal benefit, including the payments of his country club dues and three cars.
John Diehl, the former Republican house speaker, received about $380,000 in federal loans for his law firm between 2020 and 2022 through a program intended to help cover operating expenses for businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
But Diehl admitted in a September plea agreement that he instead used the money for personal expenses such as country club dues, swimming pool maintenance, his home mortgage and vehicle payments for a Tesla, Audi and Jeep. Prosecutors said he used more than half the money to fund his law firm’s defined benefit plan, of which he was the only participant – and also paid off a civil settlement related to his time as state house speaker.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/10/covid-fraud-missouri-house-speaker-john-diehlOpen linkView original on lemmy.world
The only thing that surprises me is where he admitted any wrongdoing.
I wonder who he pissed off in order to actually have to face consequences as a Republican....
He pay money back? What happen? Item take back?
Yes - Diehl had asked the federal court to spare him from prison, noting that he had already paid back all the pandemic relief funds to the Small Business Administration (SBA)
Did he have to pay any restitution back? I would glady do 2 yrs jail for $380,000 . no lie my family is struggling
:whew:
Dems are not immune, but it is nice when it's not. heh.
But we already knew what the party affiliation was. Because that's how things work.
It's largely Republicans, but absolutely not 100%, unfortunately.