Timothy D Russell

Russell, 49, served as Walker's deputy chief of staff, housing director and in other administrative posts while Walker was Milwaukee County executive. Prosecutors say he did political work while on county time, although he wasn't charged with that. Statements Russell gave for a presentence report suggesting lack of responsibility for his actions came under criticism by Assistant District Attorney Bruce Landgraf. Russell said money he took from Operation Freedom was payment for his work on the event and also referred to "confusion" as a reason tens of thousands of dollars from the event ended up in his personal bank account, Landgraf said. Russell stole $5,000 from Operation Freedom on Dec. 31, 2009 - the first day he had control of the organization's bank account - according to Landgraf. Russell used the cash for two cruises, a political trip to Atlanta and to purchase Internet domain names for Walker's campaign for governor. Landgraf and Hansher criticized Russell for complaining in his presentence report that politics played a role in his prosecution through the long-standing John Doe investigation that led to charges against five others. Russell becomes the second close former aide to Walker convicted of a felony while in office. Kelly Rindfleisch, who succeeded Russell as deputy chief of staff at the county, was sentenced in November to six months in jail and probation for doing political fundraising while at her county job. Kevin Kavanaugh was convicted of stealing more than $50,000 from Operation Freedom and other veterans funds and sentenced in December to two years in prison. Kavanaugh was treasurer of a local chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart when that group was managing the Operation Freedom money. Walker named Kavanaugh to the county Veterans Service Commission. Darlene Wink, Walker's constituent services director at the county, was sentenced in January to a year's probation on a misdemeanor charge for doing campaign fundraising in 2009 while at her county job. Pierick is scheduled to go on trial Jan. 29 on child enticement charges. Former railroad executive William Gardner was given two years of probation for making illegal campaign donations to Walker.