Sheriff Gets Prison for Tax Evasion

Jenne, 60, pleaded guilty in September to tax evasion and mail fraud conspiracy charges involving a series of questionable transactions, including money and favors from Broward Sheriff's Office vendors and payments made on his behalf for a Mercedes-Benz convertible.

Federal prosecutors had asked U.S. District Judge William Dimitrouleas to impose the maximum two-year sentence possible under sentencing guidelines, saying Jenne had done immense damage to the largest sheriff's office in Florida.

Jenne, a former state senator and long one of Broward County's leading Democratic politicians, sought a lenient sentence. He has already agreed to pay the IRS about $46,000 in back taxes, interest and penalties and has spent most of his life doing good works for Broward County, said his attorney David Bogenschutz.

"Like no other public official in this county's history, Ken Jenne has left an imprint that will be felt and enjoyed by generations to come," Bogenschutz said in court papers.

Jenne was praised during Friday's hearing by a who's who of public figures, including former state Attorney General Bob Butterworth, former Senate president Jim Scott and many others who asked for leniency.

But Dimitrouleas said Jenne's crimes, committed by the county's chief law enforcement officer, deserve at least some prison time.

"It's a sad day for Broward County," Dimitrouleas said. "It doesn't promote respect for the law if the public views someone as getting a slap on the wrist."

Jenne resigned as sheriff after nine years in office Sept. 4.