Ex-Ala. governor faces new bribery sentencing

[August 03, 2012]  MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) -- Former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman is headed back to federal court for a new sentencing hearing for his conviction on bribery and other charges.

Federal Judge Mark Fuller will decide Siegelman's new sentence in Montgomery on Friday and could order him to immediately return to federal prison after more than four years of freedom.

Siegelman and former HealthSouth chief Richard Scrushy were convicted in 2006. Prosecutors say they arranged $500,000 in contributions to Siegelman's campaign for a lottery in exchange for the governor appointing Scrushy to a hospital regulatory board.

The 66-year-old former governor was originally sentenced to more than seven years in prison. He served about nine months before being released pending his appeals. The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to hear his case.

Scrushy was recently released after serving about five years.

[Associated Press; By BOB JOHNSON]

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