McCord

HARRISBURG — A former elected Pennsylvania state treasurer was sentenced Tuesday to 2½ years in federal prison for trying to squeeze campaign cash from a law firm and a property management firm during his failed 2014 bid for governor.

Rob McCord, a venture capitalist once seen as a rising star in Democratic political circles, cooperated with investigators and resigned in January 2015 after being confronted by the FBI with secretly-recorded audiotapes. He pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted extortion and testified last year against an investment adviser in a bribery case that ultimately got thrown out of court.

U.S. District Court Judge John Jones told McCord he “suffered a precipitous fall from grace” as a result of criminal acts the judge described as “an overt and even brazen effort by Mr. McCord to essentially shake down businesses and individuals to donate to his campaign.”

“When an individual’s ambition trumps his or her good judgment and their otherwise decent character, that’s when crimes happen,” Jones said.

He also imposed $5,200 in fines and fees and a year of probation. McCord is scheduled to report to prison in late October.

McCord, 59, divorced and now living with a brother in Chapel Hill, N.C., is studying to become a marriage and family counselor and works occasionally as a yoga instructor.