(CN) - The former mayor of Bristol, Virginia pleaded guilty to illegally selling NASCAR tickets and the lying to a federal grand jury about it.
Paul Hurley, who also served on the Board of Directors of Bristol Utilities Authority and the Bristol, Virginia Economic Development Committee, waived his right to be indicted this week before pleading guilty before U.S. District Judge James Jones.
According to prosecutors, between 20009 and 2014, Hurley received Bristol Motor Speedway tickets to be used for economic development purposes, and assured the track the tickets would be given away, free of charge, to "prospects" considering moving their business to the community.
However, during an investigation by the office of U.S. Attorney Anthony Giorno, Hurley admitted he instead sold the tickets to scalpers, friends and others.
This, after he lied to a grand jury in July about the ticket sales.
Prosecutors said the former mayor sold at least 50 NASCAR tickets, with a total value of about $5,000.
Hurley faces a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison for one charge of mail fraud, and up to five years in prison for perjury.
Under the terms of his plea agreement, he must also pay $5,000 in restitution and forfeit an additional $10,000.
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