JACKSONVILLE, FLA---James. V. Crosby Jr., the former secretary of the Florida Department of Corrections, has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison for accepting approximately $135,000 in kickbacks related to the execution of a state contract.

Allen Clark, 41, the former regional director of the Florida Department of Corrections, was sentenced to nearly three years in prison for his role in the kickback scheme.

Crosby, 54, a 31-year-veteran of the prison system, pleaded guilty in July 2006 to accepting kickbacks from American Institutional Services, a company that sold snacks and drinks to prison visitors on weekends.

Clark could have received up to 10 years but prosecutors recommended a lighter sentence, saying that Clark had helped build their case against Crosby.

Before he was sentenced, Crosby apologized, saying that he was "truly sorry for what I did. I failed a lot of people. I failed the people who worked for me".

Clark and Crosby have been ordered to pay $130,000 in restitution and U.S. District Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington said she was disappointed that Crosby hadn't paid any of the money due. His attorney said Crosby had no money because after he was criminally charged, he lost more than $1 million in retirement funds.

Crosby was ordered to report to a federal prison within 30 days and he will be evaluated to determine it he needs treatment for alcohol abuse. After he completes his sentence, he will be on probation for three years.

Clark had earned $94,300 annually while Crosby's salary was $124,000. Prosecutors said that the monthly kickbacks totaled as much as $12,000 monthly. 4-25-07

© 2007 North Country Gazette