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Lobbyist barred from lobbying
TALLAHASSEE -- A long-time lobbyist has lost his livelihood after pleading guilty to a felony charge of misappropriating public money while serving as a faculty member at the University of Florida.
Dr. Paul Wharton, 51, entered the plea last week before U.S. District Judge Stephan Mickle in Jacksonville.
The judge sentenced Wharton to two years of house arrest, five years' probation, a $10,000 fine, $252,000 in restitution and 2,000 hours of community service.
"It has been a very humiliating process and a very painful and expensive process," Wharton said Monday. "I've already lost quite a lot of career opportunities."
Read the full story here.
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