Dewhurst campaign staffer guilty of embezzlement

Enlarge Photo

Lyndsey Johnson

U.S. Attorney Robert Pitman said the political consultant admitted to the scheme to steal the funds to use for personal expenses.

Mike W. Thomas

Reporter- San Antonio Business Journal

Email  |  Twitter  |  Google+  |  Facebook

A member of Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst's 2012 senatorial campaign staff has pleaded guilty to stealing $1.8 million in funds, according to attorneys for the U.S. Department of Justice.

Kenneth "Buddy" Barfield, a political consultant, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, one count of making a false tax return and one count of embezzlement of federal campaign funds before United States Magistrate Judge Mark Lane.

U.S. Attorney Robert Pitman said in a statement that Barfield admitted to the scheme to steal the funds to use for personal expenses such as his home mortgage, school tuition for his children and personal investments.

He could be sentenced to as many as 20 years in prison for the wire fraud charge, three years in prison for the false tax return charge, and five years in prison for the embezzlement of federal campaign funds charge. His sentencing has not yet been scheduled.

Mike W. Thomas covers technology/telecom, military, finance, regulatory issues as well as nonprofits/education.