Christopher Shays' former campaign manager is expected to admit next week that he embezzled at least $82,118 in donations from the former Fairfield County congressman's unsuccessful 2008 political run and spent the money on such things as hotel stays, expensive dinners and baseball tickets.
Michael Sohn, 34, of Fairfield, is scheduled to plead guilty to the embezzlement and a tax evasion charge March 11 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna Fatzi Martinez at the federal courthouse in Hartford.
The tax evasion charge involves Sohn's failure to include pilfered money as income on his 2008 federal tax return. The prosecution, headed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Jongbloed, said Sohn should have reported taxable income of $163,949 rather than $75,860. As a result, he owed $43,468 in taxes but paid only $15,617.
Sohn is looking at a possible prison term ranging from 27 to 32 months. Additionally, the government will be seeking payment of taxes owed for returns Sohn filed.
"I think this is long overdue," Shays said Friday. "Michael embezzled money. Michael failed to pay his taxes. Michael hurt a lot of people, including himself."
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