newsobserver.com projects - Summary: Geddings sentence - Comments

Re: Summary: Geddings sentence

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 07 May 2007 16:42:35 -0400

The judge found four instances of perjury:

1) His explanation that he misunderstood the so-called "newspaper rule."

2) His denial that he told a Scientific Games employee that if he disclosed his ties he would not have gotten the job as a lottery commissioner.

3) His claim that he did not show favoritism toward Scientific Games as a commissioner.

4) His statements about his work for Just Care, a prison health-care company based in Alabama.

Re: Summary: Geddings sentence

MeckDeck — Mon, 07 May 2007 15:35:12 -0400

Any clue on WHAT Geddings perjured himself about?

Was it the infamous he said/he said phone call to Jim Black? The one that either did or didn't take place on Sept. 21, 2005?

Geddings said Black called him, Black said he didn't.

Did prosecutors ever produce phone records to prove the matter one way or another? If not, why not?

http://charlotte.johnlocke.org/blog/?p=894

Re: Summary: Geddings sentence

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 07 May 2007 14:41:27 -0400

Kevin Geddings will likely serve his time at a federal prison camp in Jesup, Ga.

Re: Summary: Geddings sentence

danmanley2299 — Mon, 07 May 2007 14:32:20 -0400

they are going to have to open a new cell block in the Butner pokey for all these political folks being sent up there. Black better be singing like a canary or he may never see the light of day again.

Summary: Geddings sentence

ryanteaguebeckwith — Mon, 07 May 2007 14:16:44 -0400

A federal judge sentenced former lottery commissioner Kevin Geddings to four years in prison and a $25,000 fine today. Here is a quick summary of the arguments from the hearing:

Prosecution: Geddings got tens of thousands of dollars from Scientific Games before he became a commissioner. That's pretty much the same thing as a bribe. Defense: He wasn't bribed; he simply failed to fill out an ethics form accurately. Judge: It's not quite a bribe, but he did more than screw up a form.

Defense: Geddings wasn't a "high-level official" since he was only one of nine lottery commissioners. Prosecution: Yes, but he helped pick the executive director and tried to influence the other board members to pick Scientific Games. Judge: He's a "high-level official" all right.

Prosecution: Geddings lied to the public, he lied to the media and he lied to the jury. Defense: He meant every word he said, and he has a right to defend himself. Judge: I don't care what you said to the media, but the perjury will cost you.

Defense: Geddings' son has autism, his wife has Type 1 diabetes and his political career is over. Be lenient. Prosecution: Judges have been tough on single mothers, and he's at least got a wife. Judge: I'll take his family into consideration, but it's not a major factor.