High-profile Miss. lawyer sentenced to 5 years

He attempted to bribe a judge

Richard Scruggs (center) left federal court in Oxford, Miss., yesterday with his wife, Diane, and lawyer, John Keker. (Bruce Newman/Oxford Eagle via Associated Press)

OXFORD, Miss. - Richard "Dickie" Scruggs, who became one of the wealthiest lawyers in the country by taking on tobacco, asbestos, and insurance companies, was sentenced yesterday to five years in prison for conspiring to bribe a judge.

US District Judge Neal Biggers Jr. called Scruggs's conduct "reprehensible" and fined him $250,000. The judge handed down the full sentence requested by prosecutors despite arguments from the defense for half that time in prison.

Scruggs appeared to nearly faint as the federal judge scolded him for his conduct. Some people in the packed courtroom gasped as Scruggs started to sway side to side and his lawyer grabbed his arm to steady him. He had to be seated for a time before the sentence was read but later stood up again.

"I could not be more ashamed of where I am today, mixed up in a judicial bribery scheme," Scruggs told the judge. "I have disappointed everyone in my life."

The judge said that after reviewing evidence in the case, including secretly recorded conversations, "it made me think perhaps this was not the first time you did this because you did it so easily. And there is evidence before the court that you have done it before."

Prosecutors are looking into another alleged bribery conspiracy in which Scruggs is accused of trying to influence a different judge in a dispute over legal fees from asbestos cases. Scruggs's former defense lawyer has pleaded guilty in that case and is cooperating with investigators.

Scruggs must report to prison by Aug. 4 and pay the fine in one lump sum within 30 days. He requested to serve his time at the federal prison camp in Pensacola, Fla., the same minimum-security prison where another prominent Mississippi lawyer and Scruggs associate, Paul Minor, is serving an 11-year sentence for bribing two state court judges.

Scruggs gained fame in the 1990s by using a corporate insider against tobacco companies in lawsuits that resulted in a $206 billion settlement. That case was portrayed in the 1999 film "The Insider."

He was indicted in November along with his son and a law partner after an associate wore a wire for the FBI and secretly recorded conversations about the bribery. He initially denied wrongdoing. But in March, Scruggs and former law partner Sidney Backstrom pleaded guilty to conspiring to bribe Lafayette County Circuit Court Judge Henry Lackey with $50,000. Prosecutors say Scruggs wanted a favorable ruling in a dispute over $26.5 million in legal fees from a mass settlement of Hurricane Katrina insurance cases.

"You picked the wrong man to try to bribe," Biggers said of Lackey, who reported the attempt to authorities.

Backstrom was sentenced yesterday to two years and four months in prison and fined $250,000. Biggers said he was impressed that Backstrom seemed remorseful about his role in the case. "I cannot say that I have seen that kind of remorse from your codefendants," the judge said.

Scruggs's son, Zach, pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony, meaning he knew a crime was committed but did not report it. He is to be sentenced next week. US Attorney Jim Greenlee called the case "profoundly sad" but declined to comment further because the investigation is ongoing.

Scruggs's former defense lawyer, Joey Langston of Booneville, has pleaded guilty to trying to influence Hinds County Judge Bobby DeLaughter in the asbestos fee case by promising that Scruggs could help DeLaughter get appointed to the federal bench with the help of US Senator Trent Lott, Scruggs's brother-in-law.

Scruggs and the others have not been charged in that case. Many high-profile friends had sought leniency for Scruggs in letters to the federal judge, including former "60 Minutes" producer Lowell Bergman and tobacco industry whistle-blower Jeffrey Wigand, both portrayed in "The Insider."

Scruggs left the red-brick courthouse without comment and drove away with his family and lawyer.