CongressionalBadBoys.com | home | Hastings James Fred Hastings Republican, New York (1969-1976) The Honorable James F. Hastings was convicted of illegally receiving funds from persons placed on his Congressional payroll.  The payroll schemes lasted from February 1971 through December 1975 and provided Hastings with money he used to finance his children's college tuition, contributions to his own retirement fund in New York State, boats, motors, snowmobiles, and other items, and for subsidizing continued employment of his brother in an insurance firm.  He was sentenced from 20 months to five years at Allenwood federal penitentiary;  he served 14 months.  In 1977, the federal government sued Hastings to recover some $500,000 that he received in kickbacks from his employees. [Sound familiar?  See the Honorable Charles C. Diggs, Jr.]. Hastings became a member of the Congressional Prison Caucus. Source:  "U.S. is Suing Legislator to Get $50,000 Returned," New York Times, Mar. 27, 1977, 39.