WASHINGTON (AP) - A judge has set a September sentencing date for a former campaign aide to District of Columbia Mayor Vincent Gray.

U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly on Monday scheduled a Sept. 24 sentencing for Howard Brooks, even though a prosecutor asked for more time because of an ongoing investigation.

Brooks pleaded guilty last month to lying to the FBI about payments made to a rival candidate. He's one of two campaign aides to plead guilty in an ongoing investigation into under-the-table payments made to Sulaimon Brown, a minor candidate in the 2010 mayoral race.

The payments were intended to keep Brown in the race so that he could continue attacking then-incumbent Adrian Fenty, who was seeking a second term.

Gray has denied any wrongdoing or knowledge of the payments.

ERIC TUCKER
Associated Press