Former Bush aide gets 30 months in prison

yahoo
WASHINGTON – A former Bush White House aide was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison for stealing nearly $600,000 from a government program that promotes democracy in Cuba.

Felipe Sixto apologized Wednesday for stealing from the Center for a Free Cuba. He had pleaded guilty Dec. 19 to theft.

U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton sentenced him to 30 months in prison, three years supervised release and fined him $10,000.

Sixto quit his job as a special assistant to President George W. Bush for intergovernmental affairs almost a year ago after learning that the center was beginning legal action against him.

Sixto worked as the center's chief of staff before moving to the White House. He acknowledged overcharging the organization more than $579,000 when purchasing radios and flashlights with federal funds. His lawyer said 90 percent of the money had been paid back to the center.