(ICYMI) Former Sheriff's Major Sentenced in Corruption Case

Former Gwinnett County Sheriff Major Nicholas Neal has been sentenced to two years in prison for using his position for personal gain, the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office said Friday.

Neal was convicted Thursday on seven felony counts of Sale of Property Property to Political Subdivisions by an Employee, and one misdemeanor count of Theft by Taking, the office said in a news release.

On Friday, Judge Melodie Snell Conner sentenced him to the prison time, plus eight years of probation.

District Attorney Danny Porter prosecuted the case.

• RELATED: Former Gwinnett Sheriff’s Major Arrested on Fraud Charges

Prosecutors said Neal used his authority and rank as a Sheriff’s major to gain access to county officials for how own personal gain:

“Neal’s ownership of a wrecker company was in violation of Sherriff’s Department policy. He also used his position of influence to sell brake products to Gwinnett County in violation of State Law. For this he was found guilty of misdemeanor theft by taking,” the news release stated.

Neal was a well-liked member of the sheriff’s office, having been hired in 1996. In a statement Friday, Butch Conway called Neal a “longtime friend” who had done a lot of good in the community, but was “saddened” by the mistakes he made, the Gwinnett Daily Post reported.

Read more on the case here

Photo: Nicholas Neal Gwinnett County Jail mugshot