One of Governor Scott Walker’s former aides has entered an expected guilty plea to charges he stole thousands of dollars from a non-profit group.
Tim Russell was on Walker’s staff from 2002 to 2010 while Walker was Milwaukee County Executive. Prosecutors had charged him with stealing at least $21,000 from a veterans’ charity group and $3,500 from the campaign accounts of two Milwaukee County Board candidates.
Russell entered a guilty plea Thursday on a single felony count and agreed to pay $28,000 in restitution to the Heritage Guard Preservation Society, in exchange for another two charges being dismissed. As part of the deal, prosecutors are recommending a 30 month jail sentence and another 30 months on extended supervision.
The charges came as the result of the secret John Doe investigation into Walker’s associates and campaign donors, which started in May 2010. Four former aides to the governor and a campaign donor have been convicted, although the governor has not been charged with any wrongdoing himself.
Russell remains free on a signature bond. He will be sentenced on January 22nd.