Former Birmingham mayor gets 15 years for bribery

[The Northerner]

Source: Associated Press

USCALOOSA, Ala. – Former Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford was sentenced on Friday to 15 years in federal prison for taking clothes, Rolex watches, loan payments and cash worth more than $240,000 as bribes in return for lucrative bond work.

U.S. District Judge Scott Coogler imposed the sentence on Langford, 63, who told the court, "I am sorry all this has occurred."

The sentence was about nine years shorter than the minimum term sought by prosecutors. Asked outside court whether he was pleased, Langford sneered at a reporter.

"Are you?" said Langford, who claims he did nothing wrong.

Langford and his wife have blamed his conviction on vindictive prosecutors, inattentive jurors and racism. Langford is black; most of the jurors were white.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100305/ap_on_re_us/us_birmingham_mayor

[Bozita]

1. Hey Kwame! ... See that, big guy?

This is really gonna make him squirm.

[Shining Jack]

2. Can someone lose the key please ?

[bamacrat]

3. Shocking.

Not really Langford is crazy. He bankrupted Birmingham using its money to bet on bond swaps and other things and the city is now 3.2 billion in the hole. He had some crazy ideas, like thinking he could get the 2020 Olympics for Birmingham. ha.

[pinniped]

4. Like he's the only one. This is just one guy that got caught!

He was just going by the politician playbook, enriching yourself, friends, and associates.

[Stuckinthebush]

5. He was really bad though

Vile man. He is lucky he only got 15.

[cytodork]

6. *Sigh*

I can't remember the last time Alabama politicians made the National news and it was a flattering story...I suppose this kind of crap happens everywhere, but that doesn't make it any less infuriating when it happens here...

[dixiegrrrrl]

7. Where's the page about the BRIBERS going to jail?

Takes 2, etc.

On edit:

Never mind..I found it.

[ensemble]

8. I guess Lucky Larry ran out of luck.

Former Mayor Larry Langford, who was ousted after being convicted of bribery, won 555 electronic bingo jackpots over three years at a casino run by a longtime friend and supporter, according to newly disclosed tax records.
The tax returns show he claimed winning about $1.5 million gambling at various casinos from 2006 to 2008, but he says he lost at least that much.
On one day in 2008, he won 36 jackpots totaling $96,000 at VictoryLand, owned by Milton McGregor.


http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5guBPGjPH2h0XAcwAm2k25GR7c1xAD9E7FG200

[Laura PourMeADrink]

9. I used to work with lapierre on campaigns. this makes me sick. he

was one of the most altruistic people I have every met. he worked from early morning to late at night for democrats. wonder what the hell happened to him

[ShockediSay]

10. Their politicians are corrupt; about twice as much as ours

Throw up a roack and you'll hit at least three corrupt politicians, on average

[Syrinx]

11. Langford complains that most of the jurors were white

Yet it was Langford that wanted the trial moved out of Birmingham, where the jury would have been mostly black.

Larry is a nut, but the sentence seems harsh.