SANTA ANA – Former congressional candidate Tan Duc Nguyen was sentenced to a year in prison and six months in a halfway house for lying to investigators in a case stemming from “intimidation letters” sent to Latinos during his hotly contested race against Rep. Loretta Sanchez in 2006.

Tearfully acknowledging his “grave misjudgments” before U.S. District Judge David O. Carter in federal court in Santa Ana, Nguyen asked for mercy and was given a sentence in the middle range of a possible 21-month stint.

Carter, finding that Nguyen posed no flight risk and citing his otherwise “exemplary” life and lack of a criminal record, ordered the married father of two young boys to surrender to federal authorities on March 28 to begin serving time at a minimum-security facility in or near Southern California.

“I think it’s a fair one,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Staples said of the sentence.

Dean Steward, Nguyen’s attorney, argued that the two-time GOP candidate deserved probation, but Carter said people who run for public office should be held to the highest ethical standards, and that Nguyen’s conduct showed a “true lack of character.”

Nguyen, 37, his arm draped around his wife whose eyes were red from weeping during the hearing, declined to comment as he left the courthouse with her and seven other relatives.

After a mistrial last August, Nguyen was convicted in December of one felony count of obstructing a probe into a controversial letter that his campaign sent to 14,000 Latino voters. Sanchez is the longtime Democratic congresswoman whose district includes Garden Grove, Santa Ana and parts of Fullerton and Anaheim.

The letters Nguyen’s campaign sent to registered voters with Latino surnames and foreign birthplaces spurred an investigation into possible voter suppression and prompted a response letter from the secretary of state, reassuring them of their right to vote.

The letters, in Spanish, ambiguously warned that “emigrados” could go to jail for voting, and falsely stated that immigration reform groups would have new database access to information about new voters.

At the time, Nguyen denied having anything to do with the letters, and blamed them on a campaign volunteer whom he fired. Nguyen also cast blame on another campaign volunteer who was a close college friend.

At his sentencing, Nguyen expressed remorse.

He told Carter his decision to enter politics came from his desire to give back to a community that has done much for his family, which emigrated from Vietnam when Nguyen was 7.

“It’s been hell for the last four years,” Nguyen said, “not just public embarrassment and humiliation, but also with personal relationships.”

Later, he said: “My own actions have caused a long and painful nightmare. I’ve lived with a dark cloud over my head, and a deep sense of guilt.”

The “hell” was entirely of Nguyen’s own making and the result of misguided ambition, Staples said. The federal prosecutor requested that Nguyen be sentenced to the maximum 21 months.

Nguyen “threw under the bus” the campaign workers he blamed for the letters, Staples said.

“He sat with two lawyers and looked investigators in the face and (lied),” the federal prosecutor said. “He wanted to be Loretta Sanchez.”

Nguyen, 37, got emotional during his comments to Carter when he mentioned that his 5-year-old son just started playing T-ball. He said he was looking forward to volunteering on the team.

Nguyen spent several seconds regaining his composure before saying, “Kids have that kind of effect on you.” He and his wife also have a 2-year-old son.

Nguyen will end up serving about 10½ months at a federal facility before he is sent to a halfway house in Garden Grove, Steward said.

Nguyen will appear before Carter about three weeks after that. At that time, Carter can order Nguyen released, cut the sentence, or determine that he needs to remain in custody the entire six months.

After he is released, Nguyen will remain under federal supervision for three years.

Carter praised Nguyen for leading an exemplary life up until when he lied to investigators.

“You have a future,” Carter said.

He noted, however, that with a felony conviction, Nguyen’s future won’t be in politics.

Register staff writer Martin Wisckol contributed to this story.

Contact the writer: 714-704-3764 or ghardesty@ocregister.com