The longtime chief of staff of former U.S. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell pleaded guilty Friday to a fraud charge in U.S. District Court in connection with a kickback scheme.
Virginia M. Kontnik, 51, will be sentenced July 6 by U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael E. Hegarty. She could face up to a year in federal prison and a $100,000 fine, but prosecutors said in court documents that they are not seeking jail time.
Charged with making a false certification, Kontnik overpaid her personal assistant a total of $3,800 and instructed her to pay her $2,000 back, said Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher. The assistant gave Kontnik an envelope with 20 $100 bills, Fisher said.
Kontnik was Campbell’s chief of staff from 1995 to February 2004, overseeing a staff of 40 employees, prosecutor Kendall Day said at the court hearing. Kontnik had authority over staff bonuses and negotiated staff salaries, Day said.
In 2004, The Denver Post first reported that Kontnik paid employee Brian Thompson a bonus and then demanded a portion back in order to pay legal fees related to her divorce.
Kontnik acknowledged receiving the money but characterized it as reimbursement for “Senate/political expenses” rather than personal income.
Kontnik declined to comment following Friday’s hearing.
Staff writer Kirk Mitchell can be reached at 303-954-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com.
