PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A longtime campaign treasurer for a South Jersey congressman is going to federal prison for the next two and a half years after he admits to stealing almost a $500,000 over a 15 year period.

Andrew McCrossan, 60, served as Frank LoBiondo’s campaign treasurer from the start of his congressional career in 1995. Allegations first surfaced about a year ago that money was being stolen. In March, McCrossan, a former city administrator in Ventor and onetime Mayor of Upper Township in Cape May County, admitted to cooking the books to cover up his thefts totaling $458,000.

He’ll have to pay that money back once he gets out of prison and he’ll be on supervised release for three years. A statement issued by LoBiondo’s campagn said the congressman was “outraged” by the judge’s sentence, and noted that no attempt has been made to make restitution to this point.

Reported by David Madden, KYW Newsradio