Jim Black may head to prison today.

A judge ordered the former House speaker to surrender to U.S. marshals in Raleigh by 2 p.m.

After that, he'll in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. He's been assigned to a prison camp in Lewisburg, Pa., but he could stay in Raleigh to face state sentencing first.

The Matthews Democrat had asked to stay out of prison for another week, but as of Sunday night, a judge had not granted his request. (Char-O)

A judge turned down Jim Black's request to delay prison.

In a one-page filing Wednesday. U.S. District Court Judge Terrence Boyle ordered the former House speaker to report to federal prison by 2 p.m. Monday, the Charlotte Observer reports.

He agreed, however, to recommend that the Federal Bureau of Prisons place Black in a facility in Butner, north of Raleigh.

Black, a Matthews Democrat, faces more than five years in prison for taking cash payments from chiropractors interested in legislation at the General Assembly. Boyle ruled this month that the payments fit the definition of bribery.

Black had wanted to delay the start of the prison term until September, to ensure that the prison bureau has space at Butner and to allow him to appear for sentencing in state court Tuesday.

Former House Speaker Jim Black wants to serve his federal prison sentence in Butner, and has asked to receive alcohol treatment while there, according to court papers filed Thursday.

Butner is 14 miles northeast of Durham. The prison complex there is one of the closest federal, minimum-security prisons to the Charlotte area.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons will make the final decision on where Black will serve, reports David Ingram of The Charlotte Observer. Black, a Mecklenburg County Democrat, was sentenced this month to more than five years in prison for corruptly taking thousands in cash payments from chiropractors interested in legislation.

He could report to prison as soon as July 30, though he has asked for a delay to be sure the crowded federal prison system will have space available at his preferred prison.

In the one-paragraph motion Thursday, Black's attorneys also ask U.S. District Court Judge Terrence Boyle to recommend alcohol treatment for Black while he's in prison. They do not elaborate.

Last month, an agreement with a probation officer required Black to refrain completely from drinking alcohol. He was previously required to avoid only excessive use.