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Judge Sends Ex-Governor, CEO to
Prison on Bribery Charges
Former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman was sentenced to more than
seven years and co-conspirator former HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy
also got nearly seven years in federal prison in a bribery and
corruption case that a federal judge in Montgomery, Ala., said damaged
the public's trust in state government.
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Don Siegelman |
Describing the positive
impact they have had in Alabama during their careers, supporters of both
men testified at their sentencing hearing and defense attorneys pleaded
with the judge to show mercy. But the judge denied requests to let
Siegeman and Scrushy remain free while they appeal and they were
immediately taken into custody.
Siegelman is the only
person in the history of Alabama to be elected to serve in all four of
the top statewide offices: Secretary of State, Attorney General,
Lieutenant Governor and Governor. He served in Alabama politics for 26
years, winning his first election for the governorship with 57% of the
vote, including over 90% of the African-American electorate.
Siegelman, 61, and Scrushy, 54, were convicted last year of bribery,
conspiracy and mail fraud. The government accused Siegelman of naming
Scrushy to a hospital regulatory board in exchange for $500,000 in
donations to Siegelman's 1999 campaign for a state lottery for
education. The defense contended that there was no quid-pro-quo or
personal benefit.
On June 29, 2006, a
Federal jury found both Siegleman and Scrushy guilty on "one count of
bribery, one count of conspiracy to commit honest services mail fraud,
four counts of honest services mail fraud and one count of obstruction
of justice", according to a press release from the U.S. Department of
Justice
In addition to the jail
time, Siegleman will be forced to pay $50,000 in fines and $181,000 in
restitution.
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