After listening to a day and a half of arguments from prosecutors and defense attorneys, U.S. District Judge Mark Fuller handed down his findings this afternoon as to where the defendants fall on the scale of federal sentencing guidelines. The federal sentencing guidelines are only advisory, and now prosecutors and defense attorneys will argue what sort of departure from the guidelines, if any, might be appropriate for the defendants.
Fuller found that former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman’s crimes give him an offense level 32 — putting his potential sentence between 121 and 151 months (or 10 and 12.5 years) in prison. Siegelman’s fine range runs from $17,500 to $175,000.
Fuller found former HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy’s offense level to be 30 — putting his potential sentence between 97 and 121 months (eight to 10 years) in prison.
Fuller’s decision effectively ends the first portion of the sentencing hearing.
Defense attorneys will call character witnesses and the defendants will have the opportunity to make personal statements to the court before Fuller finally sentences the defendants.
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June 27th, 2007 at 4:04 pm
Kyle, thanks for keeping us informed. When do you think the sentence will come down?
June 27th, 2007 at 4:18 pm
Sentence might come down late tomorrow, but it’s looking like early Friday is more likely.
June 27th, 2007 at 7:34 pm
It looks like the prosecutors may not get their de facto life sentences, but I guess we’ll have to wait and see. Thanks!
June 27th, 2007 at 10:12 pm
The prosecutors never expected to get 25 and 30 years for Scrushy and Siegelman, respectively. A lot has been made of the extreme sentences that they requested, but the fact is that this is typical of every sentencing I’ve ever covered. The government asks for the death penalty and the defense asks for probation and the judge splits the difference somewhere in between.
Typically, judges lean toward the low end of the guidelines range, but they rarely stray far outside of them. If there’s a handicap for tomorrow (or Friday) here it is.
Siegelman: 10 1/2 years.
Scrushy: 9.
That’s my best guess. We’ll see if it holds up.
I’m going to revise what I said earlier about a timetable, though. After talking with some of the lawyers, I’m guessing the sentence will come down probably late Thursday, Friday on the outside.
June 28th, 2007 at 9:16 am
Goody, goody, goody.
The Don and the Screw-sh may really be going to jail.
Fingers are crosssed everywhere.
Next story Kyle: If and when they do get sentenced - when and where will they go to the pokey? Will it be the fancy-schmancy white-collar prison everyone always talks about, or will they be bound for the likes of Atmore?