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Ousted HealthSouth Chief Executive Richard Scrushy, acquitted two years ago in a major corporate fraud case, and former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman were both sentenced to prison on Thursday for bribery.
A federal judge sentenced Scrushy to six years and 10 months in prison and Siegelman to seven years and four months after they were convicted of involvement in a scheme to manipulate hospital building permissions that favored HealthSouth.
"This was a good day for justice," prosecutor Stephen Seaga said. "Hopefully they will get the message." Lawyers for both men said they would file appeals.
Scrushy, 54, was convicted last year on six charges of conspiracy and mail fraud, a year and a day after the flamboyant businessman turned preacher was acquitted on 89 counts of corporate accounting fraud in a separate, even more high profile, case.
Siegelman, 61, a Democrat who has claimed the case against him was political persecution by his foes, possibly master-minded by White House chief strategist Karl Rove, was convicted on seven charges of bribery, conspiracy and mail fraud. He was acquitted on 25 other counts.
"I never intended to do anything that approached a crime," Siegelman, his voice breaking, told the court during the lengthy sentencing hearing, which began on Tuesday. "I am not a perfect person but I am a good person."
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