Disgraced Clark County commissioners Dario Herrera and Mary Kincaid-Chauncey began serving sentences Friday in federal prison for accepting bribes from a Las Vegas strip club owner.
Herrera, once a rising star in the Democratic party, surrendered to the Federal Prison Camp in Florence, Colo. His co-defendant in the corruption trial that dominated headlines last spring, Kincaid-Chauncey, reported to the women's prison camp in Victorville, Calif.
Both were incarcerated by 2:00 p.m., Chief Deputy U.S. Marshal Fidencio Rivera said. "They are both comfortably tucked away at the facilities," he added.
Herrera, 33, and Kincaid-Chauncey were convicted in May of trading commission votes for cash from strip club owner Michael Galardi. Galardi and former Clark County Commissioner Erin Kenny, cooperated with federal prosecutors and testified against the former politicians. Herrera was sentenced to 50 months in prison.
Kincaid-Chauncey received a 30-month term. On Thursday, Kincaid-Chauncey, a 68-year-old grandmother and flower shop owner, finished a to-do list for her husband, Bob, and prepared for the three-hour drive to the desert prison camp.
Kincaid-Chauncey requested the Victorville camp, which houses about 250 women, because of the short distance from Las Vegas. The town is along Interstate 15 about 35 miles northeast of San Bernardino, Calif.
Each facility offers on-site recreation opportunities such as weight rooms and TV rooms. Inmates are allowed restricted access to a pay phone.
Kincaid-Chauncey and Herrera will be required to work for little pay. Inmates are not allowed to conduct business while in custody. That means Herrera, who had unsuccessfully requested that his surrender date be postponed for a month to finish construction on an $80 million development in Las Vegas, cannot assist his company during incarceration.
Kincaid-Chauncey is appealing her conviction, but said she is eager to serve her sentence and return to Las Vegas. "I have tremendous support in the community," she said. "Last week I ate lunch at the Golden Nugget, and the waitress and cashier both came and hugged me."
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved)
Dario Herrera and his wife leave federal court on March 22, 2006.
Mary Kincaid-Chauncey and her attorney arrive at federal court on April 24, 2006.
