CLEVELAND, Ohio – A defiant Ben Suarez was sentenced to 15 months in a federal prison today after proclaiming his innocence of a witness-tampering conviction, but failing to convince a judge he deserved mercy.

Suarez, 73, the direct marketing multi-millionaire from North Canton, expressed little remorse and made no apologies for his crime in a 20-minute address to U.S. District Court Judge Patricia Anne Gaughan.

"I think a message must be sent that money and power will not render someone special treatment," Gaughan said. "I hope this sentence will act as a deterrent, that the crime of witness-tampering is one the court takes very seriously."

Gaughan rejected a request by the prosecution for a higher sentencing guideline range, and placed the range at 15 months to 21 months, then selected the lower end for Suarez.

The judge also ordered Suarez to pay a $15,000 fine. The U.S. Bureau of Prisons will tell Suarez when he must report, and to which facility.

Defense lawyers argued that Suarez deserved probation or house arrest because he had caused no harm by his crime, had no prior criminal record and was unlikely to commit any future crimes. Following his conviction in June, the lawyers said they expected him to receive "about a year" behind bars.

Suarez was acquitted on seven counts of conspiracy, campaign finance law violations, causing false statements to be made to federal elections officials, and obstruction of justice.

The month-long trial centered on a scheme to secretly provide $200,000 in campaign contributions to U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci and Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel in 2011 and 2012.

Suarez was seeking the politicians' clout to assist his battle against an expensive consumer fraud lawsuit he was waging in California. His chief financial officer, Michael Giorgio, raised the money from Suarez family members and employees, and reimbursed them with money from his company, Suarez Corporation Industries.