Scrushy sentenced to 7 years

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Former HealthSouth Chief Executive Officer Richard Scrushy got nearly seven years in federal prison and former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman was sentenced to more than seven years yesterday in a bribery and corruption case that the judge said damaged public trust in state government.

Supporters of both men testified at their sentencing hearing, describing the positive impact they have had in Alabama during their careers, as attorneys pleaded with U.S. District Judge Mark Fuller to show mercy.

“While it is true the good far exceeds the bad, I must impose a fair punishment to reassure all that come before this court that justice is blind,” Judge Fuller said in sentencing Siegelman.

Both men were immediately taken into custody after the judge denied defense requests to let them remain free while they appeal.

The two once-prominent figures in politics and business were escorted out of the courtroom by U.S. marshals and were not allowed to talk to family members. Scrushy’s family cried quietly in the courtroom. Siegelman’s wife, Lori, left immediately.

Asked by reporters about her husband’s sentence and being immediately taken into custody, she said, “I expected it.” She got into her car without further comment.

Siegelman was fined $50,000 payable immediately, plus $181,325 to be paid to a state agency where prosecutors said kickbacks were made. He also must perform 500 hours of community service when his sentence of seven years, four months is completed.

Scrushy was fined $150,000 due immediately, and he must pay restitution of $267,000 to United Way of Central Alabama. He also was ordered to perform 500 hours of community service after serving six years and 10 months in prison.

Both will be on supervised release for three years when their terms end.

Prosecutors asked for 30 years for Siegelman and 25 for Scrushy, while the defense pleaded for probation for both.

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 there was no quid-pro-quo or personal benefit.

Scrushy founded a small health care company in Birmingham in the early 1980s that would grow into HealthSouth, A leader in outpatient surgery and rehabilitative health care.

Siegelman wiped at tears as he asked the judge for mercy, apologizing to the people of Alabama but denying he took a bribe from Scrushy.

“Your honor, I am not a perfect person, but I am a good person. I have made mistakes. I have done some stupid things and some dumb things,” he said. “Judge, you can decide whether I die in prison or go home to my family. Your honor, I ask you for mercy. I ask you to send me home.”

Scrushy, who earlier introduced the judge to his nine children, motioned to them during his final statement.

“God has blessed me with this family. It does concern me greatly the effect on my family if I am placed in prison,” Scrushy said.

Prosecutor Joseph Fitzpatrick urged Judge Fuller to mete out a stiff punishment.

“It will send the message that if these people can be sent to prison, it certainly can happen to a local politician,” he said.

Mr. Fitzpatrick, a prosecutor in the Alabama attorney general’s office who has worked with the federal prosecution on the case, acknowledged that both Siegelman and Scrushy have done good things for the people of Alabama.

“But your honor, sometimes good men do bad things and sometimes bad men do good things,” he said.