A former state official faces prison time following a guilty verdict Monday on two counts of misusing public funds.

Former Chief of State for the Commerce and Economic Growth Commission, Lesly Devereaux, was convicted of running her private law practice out of her state office. Investigators say Devereaux ordered a secretary and other state employees to do work for her law practice out of the Commerce and Economic Growth Commission?s offices.

The prosecution claims the ethical lapses took place for two years from 2002 to 2004.

"The message here today has to be that when you work for the state of New Jersey, you are here to work for the state of New Jersey full-time," said Attorney General Anne Milgram. "That is not what Lesly Devereaux did. She put her own private business before the business of the state."

Devereaux was acquitted on charges of conspiracy and conducting an unlawful business transaction. The jury couldn?t reach a verdict on 12 other counts. However, the state attorney general said there is a possibility the state will retry Devereaux on the additional 12 counts.

Devereaux could be sentenced to five to 10 years in prison.Associated Press wire reports contributed to this story.