Phone recordings of Paul Pisasale that were used as evidence in his extortion trial have been released by the District Court in Brisbane, as the former Ipswich mayor begins his jail term after being sentenced today.

Key points: Paul Pisasale admitted to impersonating a private investigator to pursue Sydney taxi driver Xin Li for up to $10,000 on behalf of his co-accused Yutian Li

Paul Pisasale admitted to impersonating a private investigator to pursue Sydney taxi driver Xin Li for up to $10,000 on behalf of his co-accused Yutian Li Yutian Li has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for extortion, to be suspended after serving seven months

Yutian Li has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for extortion, to be suspended after serving seven months Ipswich lawyer Cameron McKenzie has been sentenced to 18 months in prison, to be suspended after serving nine months

Pisasale was sentenced to two years in prison, having been found guilty on Wednesday of extortion when he posed as a private investigator and demanded thousands of dollars from the ex-boyfriend of a Chinese escort he had been seeing.

Pisasale, 67, who admitted to impersonating a private investigator to pursue Sydney taxi driver Xin Li for up to $10,000 on behalf of his co-accused Yutian Li, had pleaded not guilty to two counts of extortion on the basis he honestly believed the woman was lawfully entitled to the money.

Yutian Li, who also faced two counts of extortion, was found guilty, while Ipswich lawyer Cameron McKenzie was found guilty of one count for sending a letter of demand to Xin Li.

Judge Brad Farr said in the District Court of Brisbane that Pisasale's decision to impersonate a health surveyor and private investigator to demand money was "almost incomprehensible".

He said Pisasale invented a completely false story and in "breathtaking hypocrisy" accused Xin Li of blackmail in the phone calls.

"Your fall from grace has been from a great height and very public," he said.

Once Pisasale has served 12 months in custody, the remaining year of the sentence will be suspended.

Pisasale's co-accused, escort Yutian Li, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for extortion, the final eight months of which will be suspended once she has served seven months.

Yutian Li was sentenced first.

Yutian Li was found guilty of two counts of extortion. ( AAP: Darren England )

Judge Farr said it was clear she had not spent any money on hiring an investigator and played an integral role in the plot for cash.

"You were well aware you were not entitled to any compensation from him [Xin Li]," Judge Farr said.

"You wanted him punished for the way he treated you, either financially or alternatively, by causing his wife to find out about his relationship with you."

Through a Chinese interpreter, Yutian Li interrupted the judge and said, "It wasn't my intention to extort him for any money".

McKenzie has been sentenced to 18 months in prison, the second half of which will be suspended after he has served nine months.

Cameron McKenzie was found guilty of one count for sending a letter of demand to Xin Li ( AAP: Dan Peled )

It took the jury approximately eight hours to reach its verdict on Wednesday.

Pisasale resigned as mayor wearing a hospital gown and slippers in June 2017.

He announced his resignation at hospital, where he was being treated for multiple sclerosis, a day after the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) searched his office and home.

The 67-year old, who was once dubbed "Mr Ipswich", was first elected to council in March 1991, and had four terms as mayor.

He won the 2016 Ipswich City Council election with more than 80 per cent of the vote.

Transcripts of phone recordings used as evidence:

RECORDING ONE: PISASALE: It's be nice to be able to um … I just want to spend time talking to you. YUTIAN LI: You, you, you needed punishing my ex-boyfriend … PISASALE: Yes we're going to do that, bring his number ... We'll talk about that on Sunday, you don't want to tell too many people.

RECORDING TWO: PISASALE: Mr Li, it's George Robinson here, we're just doing a survey of people's health in Australia. Is your health OK? XIN LI: Yeah, I'm fine, yeah. PISASALE: Are you single or married? XIN LI: Ah married. PISASALE: Oh OK, that's good — have you got any children? XIN LI: Yes. PISASALE: How many children? XIN LI: Just one. PISASALE: Do you own a house? XIN LI: Yes. PISASALE: OK, thank you very much. XIN LI: That's OK, no worries.

RECORDING THREE: PISASALE: I'm an investigator … she just wants to find out the truth, otherwise we will be proceeding with court action … we don't want to cause you, your wife or your family any trouble.

RECORDING FOUR: PISASALE: This is Australia buddy! Stop trying to blackmail her! XIN LI: Yeah, I'm going to block her ... never come back to Australia again. PISASALE: No, we'll get you exported out of Australia the way you're talking ... the way you're talking now, we don't do it like that in Australia. I'm going to tell ya … and I know the Government and I know the Immigration Minister.