Judge slams prominent doctor linked to Charlie Crist for corruption

A respected Broward County doctor whose foray into Tallahassee political fundraising turned him into a criminal was sentenced to four years in prison in Fort Lauderdale federal court Wednesday, after a stinging rebuke from the judge.

U.S. District Judge William Zloch told Dr. Alan Mendelsohn, 53, that he deserved the stiff sentence because of his leading role in a Florida public corruption case that saw him divert $700,000 from campaign donations and other income to himself, his family and his mistress.

Zloch condemned Mendelsohn for orchestrating a pay-to-play scheme that thrived on political donors contributing hundreds of thousands of dollars to obtain legislative favors behind the scenes.

“Most notably, the corruption in this case strikes at the heart of the Florida Legislature,’’ Zloch said. “Dr. Mendelsohn actually facilitated a corrupt democratic process in the Florida Legislature.’’

Justice Department prosecutors had recommended that Mendelsohn, an ophthalmologist, serve 2 to 2 ½ years in prison. His attorney, Alvin Entin, had sought probation with no jail time.

During his plea hearing in December, Mendelsohn admitted using political action committees to promote legislation for the medical profession, saying he funneled $82,000 to then-state senator, Mandy Dawson after the Fort Lauderdale Democrat repeatedly pressured him to hire her associate. Mendelsohn said the aide served as a conduit for the 2003-05 payoffs to Dawson.

Mendelsohn made the admission while pleading guilty to bilking the U.S. government by failing to report to the IRS more than $700,000 in income siphoned from his political action committees, his lobbying clients and his medical practice. Mendelsohn, who raised money mainly from Republican donors, also lied to federal agents during the corruption investigation. He pleaded guilty to a single conspiracy charge, which carried a five-year maximum sentence.

Mendelsohn spent the political proceeds on a mistress, as well as his children’s private high school tuition, SAT tutoring, a luxury car and home renovations, according to court records.

Dawson has not been charged in the Justice Department’s five-year corruption investigation into Mendelsohn and state officials. Dawson spent 16 years in the state Legislature representing portions of Broward and Palm Beach counties, serving six years in the House followed by a decade in the Senate. Term limits forced her out of office in 2008.

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