A former county official in Kentucky has been sentenced to more than seven years in prison for raking in more than $100,000 in a kickback scheme that continued after his Appalachian county was hit by a tornado.
Former Morgan County Judge-Executive Tim Conley tearfully begged for mercy Tuesday. Conley acknowledged his wrongdoing and said he wants his life back.
U.S. District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove said Conley's crime "feeds into the cynicism" toward government and said there are consequences.
He sentenced Conley to seven years and three months in prison for soliciting and accepting the kickbacks from a bridge contractor. That was at the top of federal sentencing guidelines.
Prosecutors urged a sentence of 11 years and four months.
The 2012 tornado killed six people in Morgan County. They were among 25 who died in an outbreak of twisters statewide.