Don Siegelman and Richard Scrushy Headed To Prison

By Associated Press

Published: Thu, June 28, 2007 - 12:06 pm

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman

and ex-HealthSouth C-E-O Richard Scrushy were sentenced to federal

prison tonight and taken into custody immediately.

The judge denied defense pleas to let them remain free on

appeal.

U.S. District Judge Mark Fuller sentenced Siegelman to more than

seven years in federal prison for bribery and obstruction of

justice in a government corruption case. Scrushy was sentenced

moments later to six years and 10 months.

The two once-prominent figures in politics and business were

escorted out of the courtroom by U-S marshals and not allowed to

talk to family members. Scrushy's family cried quietly in the

courtroom. Siegelman's wife -- Lori -- left immediately.

Siegelman was fined 50-thousand dollars due immediately and

ordered to pay more than 181-thousand dollars to a state agency

where prosecutors said kickbacks were made in addition to his

sentence of seven years, four months.

Before issuing his sentence, Fuller said the good Siegelman has

done far exceeded the bad, but he had to impose -- quote -- "a

fair punishment to reassure all that come before this court that

justice is blind."

Scrushy was fined 150-thousand dollars due immediately and

ordered to pay restitution of 267-thousand to be paid to United way

of Central Alabama.

Both are to be on supervised release for 3 years when their

terms end and to perform 500 hours of community service when their

sentences are completed.

Siegelman and Scrushy both have promised appeals.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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