July 10, 2015

Statement from U.S. Attorney Dana Boente on the McDonnell Opinion

RICHMOND, VA—Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, provided the below statement regarding today’s opinion issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit:

“We are pleased with today’s ruling affirming the conviction of former Virginia governor Robert F. McDonnell. I would like to thank the appellate team for their efforts on this very challenging case: Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard D. Cooke, Michael S. Dry, Jessica D. Aber, Ryan S. Faulconer, and Deputy Chief David V. Harbach II of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section. I would also like to thank special agents with the FBI’s Richmond Division, the Virginia State Police, and IRS-Criminal Investigations for their hard work and commitment to this case.”

Robert F. McDonnell, 60, of Glen Allen, Virginia, was sentenced Jan. 6, 2015, to two years in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, for soliciting and obtaining payments, loans, gifts and other items from Star Scientific, a Virginia-based corporation, and Jonnie R. Williams Sr., Star Scientific’s then chief executive officer, in violation of federal public corruption laws.

A copy of this press release and others related to this case may be found on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No.3:14cr12.