Former United States Governor John Rowland, sentenced for receiving bribe 10 years ago, was again convicted by a federal court Friday on seven new charges, including concealing illegal campaign contributions, reports said.

The federal court of New Haven charged Rowland of crimes, including concealing illegal campaign payments, falsifying records, manipulating statements to Federal Election Commission, and conspiracy.

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According to prosecutors, Rowland offered to become 2102 congressional candidate Lisa Wilson-Foley's campaign adviser based on the email correspondence they got as evidence.

Rowland concealed the US$35,000 that he illegally received as consultation payment from Brian Foley's nursing home company.

In March, the Foleys pleaded guilty of making illegal campaign service payment and served a year in prison. In addition, Brian Foley became a star witness against Rowland.

At Rowland's trial, Foley testified that he paid the former governor for his campaign services. But because his wife was concerned of it being public, he used his company, Apple Health Care Inc., as a cover up.

Rowland's attorney Reid Weingarten argued that Foley was not credible. He also presented an Apple official to testify that Rowland did real consulting jobs in the company.

Rowland, however, refused to testify in his defense.

After Friday's conviction, Weingarten said they would appeal. Rowland did not speak with the media.

"Hopefully this really is the final instalment in a very sad chapter in Connecticut's history," Connecticut incumbent Gov. Dannel Malloy (D-Conn.) said on Friday.

With the looming November elections in mind, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Gustafson commented that the citizens will not tolerate corruption in the electoral process.

Rowland was elected three times to the U.S. House and served three times as a governor. He was regarded as a rising Republican candidate considered for a vice presidential or cabinet bid before he was convicted the first time.

After his release in 2006, he sought a career in economic development and later became a radio show host. However, his return to politics got him involved in political misconducts for the second time.

TagsJohn Rowland, Connecticut, New Haven, Lisa Wilson-Foley, Brian Foley, Dannel Malloy, Michael Gustafson, federal court, Reid Weingarten