Siegelman, Scrushy sent into custody

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Former Gov. Don Siegelman and fired HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy spent their first day in custody Friday at the federal prison in Atlanta as their attorneys sought to free them while they appeal their bribery convictions.

Led from the courtroom, shackled and driven by U.S. marshals to Atlanta for processing and evaluation, the once-popular Democratic governor and multimillionaire executive will be assigned to a federal prison to serve their sentences.

While U.S. District Judge Mark Fuller rejected a Thursday night bid to allow them to remain free on appeal, defense lawyers said they would turn to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals with emergency bids to free them now and challenge their convictions.

Siegelman, 61, was sentenced to seven years and four months and Scrushy, 54, was sentenced to six years and 10 months in the federal bribery case.

Legal experts said the tough sentences and immediate imprisonment reflect a growing intolerance in federal courts for white collar crimes and government corruption.