Former Omaha Councilman Vinny Palermo sentenced to federal prison

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A former Omaha city councilman was sentenced Tuesday to more than two years in federal prison, completing his fall from grace.

Vinny Palermo, 50, will spend 27 months in prison and pay more than $10,000 in restitution, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

U.S. District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced him to 18 months for conspiracy to commit honest services fraud and nine months for violating his federal probation in a previous case.

For five years, Palermo received gifts — including airfare and luxury hotel rooms — that were intended to influence his actions on the Omaha City Council.

Prosecutors allege that the councilman received the benefits from the leaders of two nonprofits, Police Athletics for Community Engagement and the Latino Peace Officers’ Association.

SEE ALSO: Omaha city councilman, former police officers accused of corruption

Former Omaha Police Capt. Richard Gonzalez, who was the director of PACE, was also sentenced Tuesday to 18 months in prison. He must also pay $66,749 in restitution.

Johnny Palermo, the former leader of LPOA, has a change of plea hearing scheduled for Thursday.

A fourth co-defendant, Jack Olson, is set to go on trial in April.

In August, the Omaha City Council voted to remove Vinny Palermo.

After his prison term, he will spend two years on supervised release.

Palermo’s problems with the law began in 2019, when he was indicted on tax charges.

He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four years of probation.