Terrence John “TJ” Cox and the federal government have different ideas about how much time he should serve for fraud.

The one-term former congressmember pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud in February. Several other charges were dropped as part of the plea deal.

Arrested in 2022 on 28 charges, Cox is scheduled to be sentenced at 10 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 15, before U.S. District Judge Dale A. Drozd at the downtown Fresno courthouse.

Cox said in court papers that he committed fraud not to enrich himself but to help the community in financial distress. Prosecutors said Cox played by his own rules and operated “above the law.”

A Fresno Democrat, Cox served in Congress from 2019 through 2021, defeating incumbent David Valadao, R-Kings County, before losing in a rematch.

Prosecution:

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