(Reuters) – A Los Angeles federal jury convicted U.S. Representative Jeff Fortenberry of lying to FBI about a 2016 foreign campaign contribution by a Nigerian billionaire.

Fortenberry was elected as the 1st representative in Nebraska in 2005. In that election, Fortenberry was accused of lying to investigators regarding $30,000 in contributions to his campaign from Gilbert Chagoury (a Nigerian billionaire).

Federal law forbids foreigners from making donations to federal elections campaigns.

In October, Fortenberry was indicted by a grand jury on two counts of making false statements before federal investigators. One count was for scheming falsifying and concealing material facts.

Fortenberry, who is 61 years old, claimed he told truth to FBI agents when discussing campaign contributions at his Lincoln home.

In a press release, the U.S. Justice Department stated that evidence during the trial revealed Fortenberry deceived and misled federal authorities during two interviews. The Justice Department stated that Chagoury contributed $30,000 to Fortenberry via third-party “straw donor” attendees at an Los Angeles Fortenberry campaign fundraiser. The Daily Beast reported that U.S. District Judge Stanley Blumenfeld granted Fortenberry freedom until his June 28 sentencing. He determined that Fortenberry was not an imminent flight risk.

A maximum five-year sentence is imposed for each conviction.

Fortenberry can be expelled from Congress by a conviction. With a majority vote by two thirds of members, he could be removed from Congress.

Fortenberry’s defense lawyers did not respond immediately to our request for comment.