BOSTON (AP) — A jury has begun deliberations in the corruption trial of former Massachusetts Treasurer Tim Cahill.

Cahill is charged with scheming to use $1.5 million in taxpayer-funded lottery advertising money in an attempt to boost his faltering 2010 gubernatorial campaign.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030′s Carl Stevens reports

A Suffolk Superior Court jury began deliberating early Tuesday afternoon after hearing closing arguments and a judge’s instructions on the law.

Cahill’s lawyer said he approved ads touting the lottery’s benefits to defend it against attack ads run by the Republican Governors Association.

But a prosecutor said Cahill conspired to “reach into the pocket” of the lottery to use public money for his independent campaign for governor.

Cahill is charged with conspiracy to use his official position to gain an unwarranted privilege and conspiracy to commit procurement fraud.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.