Corriveau, previously described as the “central figure” in the scandal, was also fined $1.4 million, with 10 years to pay it off once his sentence is completed.<\/p>\n
A jury found Corriveau guilty of three charges in November: fraud against the government, forgery and laundering proceeds of crime.<\/p>\n
“The length, the nature [of the crimes], the amounts and the sophistication of the scheme and the important efforts to ensure its clandestine nature merit an exemplary sentence,” Superior Court Justice Jean-Francois Buffoni said.<\/p>\n
The crimes occurred between 1997 and 2003.<\/p>\n
Close friend of Jean Chr\u00e9tien<\/h2>\n
In addition to the fine, lawyers previously agreed that some proceeds from the eventual sale of Corriveau’s Montreal-area home, valued at $950,000, and an investment account with more than $850,000 would be seized by the government.<\/p>\n
The Crown alleged Corriveau set up a kickback scheme on contracts awarded during the sponsorship program and used his Pluri Design Canada Inc. firm to defraud the federal government.<\/p>\n
Corriveau, who worked on ex-prime minister Jean Chretien’s Liberal leadership campaigns and was close to him, was accused of pocketing roughly $7 million in kickbacks.<\/p>\n
![\"Chretien\/Corriveau](\"http:\/\/usa.timesofnews.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/RSSPoster_PRO\/cache\/003f3_chretien-corriveau-composite.jpg\")
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The Gomery report detailed the existence of an ‘elaborate kickback scheme’ masterminded by Corriveau, a close friend of Jean Chr\u00e9tien. (Canadian Press\/CBC)<\/p>\n
The judge who headed the commission into the sponsorship scandal described Corriveau in his report about 10 years ago as the “central figure” in the scheme.<\/p>\n
The sponsorship program was created after the 1995 sovereignty referendum to boost the federal government’s presence in Quebec.<\/p>\n
Ottawa’s inquiry found that firms were winning contracts based on donations to the federal Liberals, with little work being done.<\/p>\n
Crown prosecutor Jacques Dagenais said Corriveau’s involvement began at the very beginning of the program.<\/p>\n
“He acted a bit as a sparkplug because he had the influence, he was among the first to be aware of the program, to be aware that there was a huge lot of money that wasn’t really managed in the standard way by the government,” Dagenais said.<\/p>\n
“It was rather loosely managed by a small group of civil servants and he took advantage of that.”<\/p>\n
Crown and defence call\u00a0sentence\u00a0‘severe’<\/h2>\n
Corriveau was only charged in December 2013 following an 11-year investigation.<\/p>\n
He chose not to address the court when asked by Buffoni on Wednesday if he wanted to do so.<\/p>\n
Corriveau was handcuffed and placed in the prisoner’s box after the sentence was read out.<\/p>\n
The Crown did not object to the release and suggested an appeal might take two years to be heard.<\/p>\n
Defence lawyer Gerald Souliere said he’s also ready to appeal the sentence.<\/p>\n
“Mr. Corriveau never thought he would end his days in prison, that he would go to prison,” Souliere told reporters. “So, other than to say he’s stunned, there’s nothing else I can say.”<\/p>\n