Ex-Va. finance chief gets 10 years for wire fraud

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia’s former secretary of finance has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for wire fraud.

John W. Forbes II was sentenced this afternoon by U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson, who lectured the former state Cabinet official about abusing his position of trust. Forbes apologized for his actions.

The 54-year-old Forbes pleaded guilty in August to defrauding the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission. Forbes, who served on the commission’s board, secured a $5 million grant for an adult literacy program that he created. He admitted to using about $4 million of the money for his own expenses.

Forbes served as finance secretary from May 2001 to January 2002 under then-Gov. Jim Gilmore.