Former CT Gov. Rowland Reports to Prison Monday: Reports

Former Connecticut governor and now twice-convicted felon John Rowland reported to federal prison Monday.

News of Rowland’s scheduled date to turn himself in came as a surprise to many, according to the Hartford Courant. Nothing appears on Rowland’s court docket about reporting to prison Monday.

Rowland reported to Otisville federal prison in New York, according to the New Haven Register.

The medium-security prison is located in Orange County and has an adjacent minimum security satellite camp. It has a total prisoner population of 786 inmates.

Rowland was listed as not being in Federal Bureau of Prisons custody as of Monday afternoon.

The former governor was charged with violating federal campaign finance laws after he reportedly consulted for the Lisa Wilson-Foley campaign in her bid for the U.S. House of Representatives 5th District seat. Her husband, Brian Foley testified that he hired Rowland through his nursing home company as a consultant in order to keep Rowland’s involvement in the campaign off the books.

He was sentenced to 30 months in prison.

Rowland was considering an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court after being denied by an appeals court. He hired a new legal team that includes Noel Francisco, the attorney that helped get corruption charges dismissed against former Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell.

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg granted an extension to Nov. 14 for Rowland’s lawyers to file an appeal to the high court, according to court documents. Hearst Media reports that Rowland had decided not to further the appeal.

The quick-rising GOP star was elected governor in 1994 and is the youngest governor in the state’s history. He pleaded guilty to depriving the public of honest service in 2004 and served a year and a day in prison.

Image via CT State Library c/o Photographer - Calabrese, Anthony