GOP fundraiser Alan Mendelsohn pleads guilty to scheme

[Freddie Stubbs]

Source: The Miami Herald

A prominent Broward County ophthalmologist who raised millions for Republicans and once advised Gov. Charlie Crist pleaded guilty Thursday to scheming to bilk the U.S. government -- including failing to report $82,000 in political donations secretly given to a former state senator.

Dr. Alan Mendelsohn, 52, pleaded in Fort Lauderdale federal court to a single conspiracy charge, which also accused him of lying to federal agents. He is eligible to receive about two years in prison under sentencing guidelines, but his lawyers plan to seek significantly less punishment from U.S. District Judge William Zloch.

Zloch set Mendelsohn's sentencing for Feb. 17.

The Mendelsohn case was among a string of corruption investigations stretching from South Florida to Tallahassee in recent years.

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/12/09/1965089/gop-fundraiser-alan-mendelsohn.html

[louis-t]

1. The scheme is right out of the GOP handbook.

Only a few ever get punished, and then it's a slap on the wrist.

[gratuitous]

2. Just another cost of doing business

Sure, Mendelsohn had to go down, but the dozens (hundreds?) of other GOP bagmen go merrily on their way. They accept a certain number as attrition in the crusade to undermine America, knowing that for every one that finally falls, so many more evade capture, or even suspicion.