year. Federal investigation In March 2012, Mellow agreed to plead guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and filing a false income tax return. Mellow formally pleaded guilty on May 9, 2012 to a conspiracy charge related to using Senate staff members to do political work and filing a false tax return. During the proceedings, U.S. District Judge Joel H. Slomsky thoroughly laid out the charges and the plea agreement for the former senator, making sure Mellow understood the plea agreement and the consequences of it. Asked if he understood that he could receive a maximum prison sentence of five years, Mellow replied "I do". He gave the same answer when asked if he understood he was pleading guilty to a felony and that it would affect his ability to vote and hold a political office. He was sentenced to 16 months in federal prison on November 30, 2012. He forfeited his state-funded pension when he was sent to federal prison after his political corruption and tax evasion convictions. However, his pension was later restored in 2017, in a narrow 6-5 decision. After serving his sentence, in 2014 all other charges were dismissed. In 2016, Mellow released a book titled "Used, Abused & Forgotten - Bob Mellow: A Targeted Senator" which chronicled his life in politics and his time in federal prison. Notes and references External links Follow the Money'' - Robert J. Mellow 2006 2004 2002 2000 1998 campaign contributions 1942 births 20th-century American politicians 21st-century American politicians Bethel University (Tennessee) alumni Living people Pennsylvania politicians convicted of crimes Democratic Party Pennsylvania state senators People from Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania Presidents pro tempore of the Pennsylvania Senate University of Scranton alumni