By Associated Press
Montgomery, AL – A federal judge adopted sentencing guidelines Wednesday that could send former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman to prison for more than 10 years and former HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy for more than eight years.
U-S District Judge Mark Fuller also established a range of fines of 17-thousand, 500 to 150-thousand dollars for Siegelman. That range was 15-thousand to 150-thousand for Scrushy.
Fuller does not have to follow the guidelines and can give final sentences that are harsher or more lenient.
In making his findings, Fuller ruled that his decision was influenced by a determination that both Siegelman and Scrushy had failed to take responsibility for their crimes.
Prosecutors had requested sentences of 30 years in prison for Siegelman and 25 years for Scrushy and that both men pay millions of dollars in fines.
Almost a year ago, Siegelman and Scrushy were convicted of bribery and related crimes in a government corruption case. The sentencing hearing is expected to last much of the week.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)