Dinesh D'Souza Avoids Prison Sentence

Carrie Dedrick | Updated: Sep 24, 2014

Dinesh D'Souza Avoids Prison Sentence

Dinesh D’Souza, the conservative author and filmmaker convicted of using straw donors to fund Wendy Long’s political campaign, has avoided a prison sentence. D’Souza previously pleaded guilty making illegal contributions, and was sentenced yesterday (Sept. 24) to five years of probation, and eight months in a community confinement center. 

In addition, D’Souza was fined $30,000 and will be required to go to counseling and do community service a day per week for the five-year period. Prosecutors in the case were pushing for D’Souza to serve 10 to 16 months in jail. 

U.S. District Judge Richard Berman made the decision. Berman said before handing down the sentencing, “I'm not sure, Mr. D'Souza, that you get it. And it is still hard for me to discern any personal acceptance of responsibility in this case."

Some Republicans criticized the government for selectively prosecuting D’Souza for his conservative political stance. 

"I'm just relieved and want to thank the judge for imposing a fair sentence," D’Souza said after the sentencing.

Publication date: September 24, 2014



Dinesh D'Souza Avoids Prison Sentence