MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A federal judge on Tuesday denied a motion by former Sen. Brian Kelsey to stay out of prison while the court considered a request to vacate his sentence.
Kelsey, a former Republican state senator from Germantown, was indicted on five counts of campaign violations related to his failed 2016 run for the U.S. House of Representatives.
He pleaded guilty to two counts in 2022, and was sentenced to 21 months in prison.
But in 2023, he withdrew his guilty plea, saying he was confused and inexperienced with the criminal justice system.
The court said it did not believe the Georgetown-educated lawyer and former state senator did not understand the law. Kelsey appealed the sentence, but it was upheld.
Kelsey is set to report to prison Monday.