By Alabama Public Radio
Birmingham, AL – U-S District Judge Sharon Blackburn sentenced former HealthSouth finance chief Bill Owens Friday to five years in prison for his role in the company's fraud scandal. But the sentencing hearing went beyond Owens' fate. Judge Blackburn also used the opportunity to complain about jurors' decision to acquit former HealthSouth C-E-O Richard Scrushy in the same case. Blackburn says it is apparent to her that Scrushy directed the fraud but would never go to prison for it. She says that's a travesty. Blackburn also told Owens she believed his testimony that Scrushy was the mastermind behind the multi-billion dollar fraud. Scrushy released a statement saying Owens was to blame for the entire thing.