Former Gary Mayor Jerome Prince Sentenced for Campaign Fund Misuse

Gary: Former Mayor Jerome Prince was sentenced in Hammond for misusing campaign funds. He used money meant for his campaign to buy a house in the Miller neighborhood.

The judge gave him one year of probation and a hefty fine of $26,750, which was the exact amount he misused. Prince admitted to wire fraud, and in return, prosecutors agreed not to pursue further charges against him or others involved.

Interestingly, he won’t have to pay back his donors. The prosecutor mentioned it would be too complicated since there were so many donors over the years. The case was pretty clear-cut, and the judge felt the punishment was fitting.

Prince didn’t say much during the sentencing, but his lawyer thought the plea deal was fair. Afterward, Prince released a statement saying he took responsibility for his actions and apologized to everyone who trusted him.

The judge pointed out that this was a serious matter, calling it public corruption since Prince was supposed to use the funds for political purposes. He emphasized that this felony would stick with Prince for life, serving as a lasting reminder of his actions.

Back in 2019, Prince had written checks from his campaign fund to pay for personal expenses, which he didn’t report as required. He was the only one who could sign checks from that account, making it even more concerning.

Prince was elected mayor in November 2019 but lost his re-election bid in May 2023. He had a long history in local politics, serving in various roles before becoming mayor. The judge even expressed some personal connection to Prince’s story, wishing him well after the sentencing.