In 1982, Carpenter ran for the Democratic Party nomination for U.S. Senate but lost to then-governor Jerry Brown.

[2] Carpenter chaired his Senate caucus election fund-raising work from 1980 to 1985, which led to accusations of corruption.

In 1990, Carpenter was convicted of racketeering, conspiracy and extortion as part of the BRISPEC sting operation.

He fled to Costa Rica before sentencing, claiming it was for prostate cancer treatment and was subsequently extradited to the United States.

[3][4][5] Carpenter's only child, Jana Carpenter-Koklich (born January 1, 1960), went missing from her home in Lakewood, California in August 2001 and has never been found.