Sentence was pronounced this morning (Nov. 7) by Federal District Judge Philip Gutierrez. As previously reported by LBREPORT.com, Mr. Kemp (whose government affairs clients at the time included medical marijuana outlets) pleaded guilty in July to subscribing to a false tax return for 2012 when he reported no taxable income when his business took in roughly $180,000.

By midafternoon, Mr. Kemp -- without mentioning Republican candidate Donald Trump by name -- put a message on his Facebook (text below) citing his 366 day sentence [for tax fraud] and noting that Mr. Trump has acknowledged not paying nearly $1 billion in taxes [by, Trump says, lawfully applying federal tax laws written by Congress.]

[Kemp Nov. 7 afternoon Facebook dispatch] 12 months and 1 day in jail. While tomorrow a man who admits to not paying almost $1 billion in taxes, and says that makes him smart could become the next President of the United States."

Life is not fair, but God is still good, and we are faithful enough and strong enough to get through this.

Thank you all for your prayers and all of your support throughout this process, especially the many that filled the courtroom. I love you, and I thank God for you.

[Scroll down for further.]

Mr. Kemp agreed to a written plea of guilty on the charge...but the sentence remained within the judge's discretion.

Writing on his Facebook the day before sentencing (Nov. 6), Mr. Kemp stated:

...[N]o matter what the judge has for me tomorrow, I KNOW what God has for me today! And in that courtroom tomorrow, I KNOW that it will be ALL good, because it will be ALL GOD, and "He's intentional". This is one of my "Goliath moments". It's not the first, won't be the last, but I have never been more ready.

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In pre-sentencing documents, the U.S. Attorney's office recommended that the Court impose a "low-end sentence of 18 months' imprisonment, a one-year period of supervised release, $210,661 restitution pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3663(a)(3), an order for $100,000 immediate payment of restitution, and a $100 special assessment." In support of its position, federal prosecutors told the Court:

...[T]he facts demonstrate defendant engaged in a years-long pattern of deliberate criminal activity designed to conceal his receipt and tax avoidance on more than $750,000 in U.S. Currency -- much of it cash. Despite his claims to the contrary, in his statement at PSR ¶ 18 [Presentence for Report from U.S. Probation Office], defendant's conduct is the result of more than just bad business practices. As noted by the Probation Officer, an aggravating factor here is that "defendant's conduct in the instant matter was repeated in nature as it involved six separate income tax filings." Sentencing Rec. Letter at 5. Moreover, defendant admitted that he willfully engaged in subscribing to a false tax return. See Plea Agreement, ¶¶ 5 and 11.

The history and characteristics of defendant show that he is a well-educated professional with a successful business who nonetheless skirted the law while engaging in that business. Moreover, the Probation Officer noted that defendant's criminal history "highlights a need for deterrence and respect for the law." Id. at 4. Consequently, a low-end sentence of 18 months is reasonable and warranted under the circumstances.

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In an Aug. 9, 2016 Facebook dispatch, Mr. Kemp wrote:

This is hard to do, but necessary. Thank you for your consideration. While carrying this weight of shame, and being put in the local news, I just assumed everyone already knew everything.

I plead guilty to falsifying my tax returns and face sentencing on November 7. The max sentence is 3 years but I made a plea deal for 18 months. I did the crime, I take responsibility for it. I did it in part to take care of my mom, but not totally, and I will have to give all the money I have to pay Uncle Sam back and present a good faith effort to persuade the judge to give me house arrest or even reduce the agreed to sentence.

So I've had to really humble myself, and do what I hate doing, and that's asking for help. I trust that God will help me through this, and that this is somehow part of His plan, but it's pretty a rough year.

In an August 9 exchange ne comment on Facebook. one person said, "This is a joke right?" to which Mr. Kemp replied, "I wish it was a joke brother."

No, it's not a joke. Below are salient portions of Mr. Kemp's federal plea agreement.

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As previously reported by LBREPORT.com, one day before he entered his guilty plea in court in July 25, Mr. Kemp was Baptized as a member of LB's Antioch Church. Those who follow Mr. Kemp on Facebook are aware that in recent months he lost his mother, for whom he had been caring through her lengthy battle against cancer.

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Mr. Kemp earned a B.A. in Liberal Arts and Masters of Public Administration from CSULB, where he elected Associated Student Body President (95-97) and went on to positions with the City and Port of Long Beach. Then-City Manager James Hankla tapped Mr. Kemp to handle government affairs tasks, after which Mr. Kemp moved over to the Port of LB in its newly created Community Relations and Government Affairs Division. He then went on to launch his own advocacy firm, whose client list at one point included the then-proposed 2nd/PCH development, PMSA and the Long Beach Collective Association (comprised of a number of LB marijuana outlets.)

In 2014, Mr. Kemp entered the race for LB's 5th district Council seat and finished second in a runoff with Stacy Mungo. He then served as a Washington D.C. aide to Federal Maritime Commissioner Mario Cordero before returning to CA in February 2016 to take a position as VP in PMSA's LB office.

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