Visiting U. S. District Judge Edward Rafeedie also fined the former legislator $10,000 for his guilty plea to a conspiracy charge last year that included setting up offshore accounts in Hong Kong and Tonga for Honolulu businessman Michael Boulware.

The judge pointed out Suzuki committed parts of the offense while a state legislator and used his office's resources.

"That is a serious matter," the judge said.

Suzuki remains free on bail and must report to serve his prison term on April 18.

Suzuki, the Democratic representative from the 31st House District covering Salt Lake and Moanalua from 1992 to 2002, apologized in court and thanked his family and friends who had to endure a "long and painful ordeal" that he had caused.

He later declined to comment when he left the courthouse, but his lawyer William Harrison said Suzuki was "stunned" by the sentence.

Harrison had asked that Suzuki be given probation and community service.

Among the supporters who submitted more than 100 letters to the judge were Congressman Ed Case and former Gov. Ben Cayetano, Harrison said.

Boulware was convicted in 2001 of tax evasion and filing false tax returns and a bank fraud conspiracy charge, but the U. S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals last year reversed the tax convictions and upheld the conspiracy conviction.