Michael Carona

- Age: 53 years old in 2008
- Began career in law enforcement in 1976 with Orange County's Marshal's DepartmentThe Career of Sheriff Carona
- Dubbed "America's Sheriff" by Larry King on CNN during Samantha Runnion case in 2002The Career of Sheriff Carona
- Spouse: Deborah Carona
- Mistress: Debra Hoffman
- Charged with conspiracy, mail fraud and witness tampering in the fall of 2007Abc7.com: Former O.C. Sheriff Carona's federal corruption trial begins Wednesday (October 29, 2008)
- Resigned from sheriff's department in January 2008The Career of Sheriff Carona
- Jury selected on Tuesday, October 28, 2008
- Allegedly accepted nearly $700,000 in cash, gifts, kickbacks and questionable loans in exchange for political favors
- Prosecutors claimed many of the bribes were from businessman Don Haidl
- Convicted of felony witness tampering on January 16, 2009LA Times: Carona convicted on one count, acquitted on five (January 17, 2009)
- Acquitted of five other felony countsLA Times: Carona convicted on one count, acquitted on five (January 17, 2009)
- Carona and Hoffman were tried together
- Deborah Carona faces a separate trial

Former Orange County, California, Sheriff Michael Carona was convicted of misusing his office to enrich himself, his wife and his mistress, by accepting cash and gifts in exchange for political favors.Abc7.com: Former O.C. Sheriff Carona's federal corruption trial begins Wednesday (October 29, 2008)
On April 27, 2009, Carona was sentenced to 66 months in federal prison and fined $125,000.Los Angeles Times: Carona gets 66 months in federal prison [UPDATED] (April 27, 2009) Federal Judge Andrew Guilford was unsparing as he handed Carona the sentence, admonishing him for abusing his position as a law enforcement official and reading a passage from the 2008 book The Importance of Being Honest. Carona was granted bail until July 24, reportedly so that he could attend his son's graduation.Los Angeles Times: Carona gets 66 months in federal prison [UPDATED] (April 27, 2009)
Conviction

On January 16, 2009, Carona was convicted of one count of felony witness tampering and acquitted on five other charges. Witness testimony described a love nest, Vegas getaways and secret bank accounts, as well as bribes paid in cash-stuffed envelopes. Although the jurors believed that Carona had taken bribes, the statute of limitations had expired on most of the charges. Carona was convicted of witness-tampering, stemming from a conversation Carona had with former Assistant Sheriff Don Haidl, Haidl was wired when he spoke to Carona in a restaurant about their upcoming trial and how they will work together to get their stories straight.LA Times: Carona convicted on one count, acquitted on five (January 17, 2009) Probation officers have recommended a six-year prison sentence for the former Sheriff.LA Times: 78 months in federal prison recommended for Carona (March 24, 2009) Los Angeles Times: Carona gets 66 months in federal prison [UPDATED] (April 27, 2009)