Former North Carolina House Speaker Jim Black sentenced to 5 years in federal prison
Former state House Speaker Jim Black, once one of the most powerful men in North Carolina government, was sentenced Wednesday to more than five years in prison for illegally taking cash from chiropractors while promoting their agenda.
U.S. District Judge Terrence Boyle also fined him $50,000.
Black, 72, had pleaded guilty in February to a single count of accepting things of value in connection with the business of state government. The federal charge carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years and a $250,000 fine, but sentencing guidelines suggested a shorter term.
The judge on Wednesday rejected prosecutors’ requests for a harsher sentence, instead giving Black five years and three months in prison. He will be allowed to report to prison later this month.
Black had apologized in court for his “stupid mistakes” and pleaded for leniency.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to accept full responsibility for the mistakes that I’ve made,” the Democrat said Wednesday. “I apologize to my colleagues, my family,” Black added before apologizing to the citizens of the state.
His attorneys had asked Boyle to let Black to serve his sentence at home while the politician, also an optometrist, provided eye care and glasses to indigent patients at a free clinic he would set up.
Assistant U.S. Attorney John Bruce, however, argued that Black did more damage than two of his political associates – former Rep. Michael Decker and former state lottery commissioner Kevin Geddings – who were each sentenced to four years in public corruption cases.
