Ex-Klan chief jailed for tax fraud

Ex-Klan chief jailed for tax fraud

Duke once held a seat for Louisiana in the House of Representatives

The former leader of the white supremacist Ku Klux Klan organisation in the United States has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for fraud and tax evasion charges.

David Duke - who once held a seat for Louisiana in the House of Representatives - had earlier admitted defrauding his supporters of thousands of dollars.

They had sent him money after he said he had financial problems.

Prosecutors say most of the money was spent on gambling in casinos.

The court in New Orleans also fined Duke $10,000 and ordered that he seek treatment for an addiction to gambling.

"I'm very thankful to my family and my friends for their support during this very difficult period. After I'm out of the jaws of the federal government I will have a lot to say about the entire matter and that's about all I can," he said outside the court after being sentenced.

He is due to report to prison by 15 April.

'White rights'

A former Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, Duke had returned to the US for the court appearance after reportedly being on a tour of Europe to propagate his white supremacist views.

Duke hit the Louisiana political scene in 1988, winning a seat as a Republican in the Louisiana House of Representatives after running on a "white rights" ticket.

He also stood unsuccessfully for the Senate and the Louisiana governorship.