10 Years In Prison For Ex-Louisiana Gov

Former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards was sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined $250,000 Monday for racketeering and extortion.

U.S. District Judge Frank Polozola imposed the sentence, which was only slightly short of the maximum of 11 years and $500,000 allowed under federal guidelines.

Edwards, 73, showed little emotion as the decision was read, but his daughters and wife sobbed.

"A long sentence is effectively a death sentence," said Edwards' lawyer Dan Small, who immediately filed notice of appeal.

Polozola said he agreed with the jury's guilty verdicts reached in May. "I believe the sentences the court will impose are fair, proper, and just under the facts of this case," he said.

Sentenced with Edwards were his son Stephen, 7 years and $60,000; former aide Andrew Martin, 5 years-8 months and $50,000; long-time friend Cecil Brown, 5 years-6 months and $50,000; and long-time Edwards crony Bobby Johnson, 5 years-4 months and $50,000.

Jim Cole, defense attorney for the younger Edwards, said it was a case of guilty by association. "The jury's verdict is largely a product of Stephen Edwards' last name. He's swept along by whatever they think of his father."

"By using his office to victimize businessmen, Mr. Edwards has furthered the idea that those who conduct business in Louisiana must bribe public officials," said U.S. Attorney Eddie Jordan.

The colorful former four-term governor was convicted in May of extorting hundreds of thousands of dollars from businessmen applying for riverboat casino licenses during and after his final term in office.

Polozola did not immediately set a date when they must report to prison.

A separate court battle is expected on whether the former governor and the others can remain free during their appeal.

Sentencing came after a day of debate over the amount of time that should be spent in prison. Prosecutors argued Louisiana owes much of its reputation for corruption to Edwards.

"It's the Edwards legacy," assistant U.S. attorney Jim Letten said.

Small dismissed Letten's argument, saying, "The government has created this fantasy that people are leaving the state because of Edwin Edwards. What nonsense!"

Letten said Edwards should receive a stiffer sentence than the 11 to 14 years reportedly recommended by federal probation authorities.

The defense argued that the former governor's sentence should be short because he will be abused by other prisoners who know his reputation. On the contrary, Letten said, Edwards' reputation would help him because it would make him more popular among other prisoners.

The courtroom was packed with spectators, including all four of Edwards' grown children and his wife, Candy, who for a time sat next to his ex-wife, Elaine.

Edwards was convicted of 17 counts of racketeering, extortion, fraud and conspiracy. Edwards' son Stephen, frmer gubernatorial aide Andrew Martin, cattleman Cecil Brown and businessman Bobby Johnson also were convicted. All plan to appeal.

Until that conviction, the 73-year-old Edwards had survived two dozen investigations, by his count.

The trial was highlighted by tales of huge sums of cash changing hands, of secretly recorded conversations and the public betrayal of Edwards by men with whom he once socialized and frequently gambled.

Last month, Polozola threw out six fraud convictions against the Edwardses. But he let stand the more serious racketeering and extortion counts against the former governor and his son. Each carries a maximum 20-year prison sentence.

Prosecutors have not decided whether to retry the men on the voided charges.

The riverboat gambling investigation stemmed from wiretaps on Edwards' home telephone and a microphone hidden in his law office for nearly three years. Edwards is challenging the validity of the government's secret monitoring.