Businessman in Synagro scandal gets 5 years in prison

Leonard N. Fleming / The Detroit News

Detroit -- Businessman Rayford Jackson received the maximum sentence Friday for his role in the City Hall bribery scandal: 60 months in prison.

But U.S. Judge Avern Cohn said Jackson could reduce the sentence -- which also calls for three years' probation -- if he agrees to cooperate. Jackson has told the media that he hasn't helped federal officials with the investigation into the city's pay-to-play scandal.

"Contrition and remorse are always a consideration in sentencing," Cohn said while delivering the sentence. "He's not displayed contrition and he's not displayed remorse. And he's not apologized for his activities."

Jackson, 44, pleaded guilty in June to paying more than $6,000 in bribes to former Detroit City Councilwoman Monica Conyers in 2007. The payments were to secure her vote -- which proved to be the tiebreaker -- to approve a $1.2 billion sewage sludge contract with Synagro Technologies Inc. of Houston. Jackson was the local partner on the deal.

The guidelines called for 18-60 months in prison

"I hope that (the sentence) will be a deterrent for anybody who is considering similar conduct in terms of bribing public officials," said Terrence Berg, acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Jackson briefly addressed the court, saying he's ready to accept the sentence. He was silent before and after leaving the federal court in downtown Detroit, but his attorney, Richard Morgan, said he was "shocked" by the sentence.

"I did not expect this harsh of a sentence," Morgan said.

Jackson is to report to prison no later than Jan. 15. Morgan said Jackson is stunned, but prepared.

"He's a man," Morgan said. "He stood up for his principles and he'll deal with the consequences of his actions."

Morgan had said Jackson's sentence should be lower than those to be given to former Synagro official James R. Rosendall, who financed the bribes before cooperating with federal officials, and Conyers, who received the bribes.

Morgan said he understands the government is recommending 10-16 months for Rosendall. Conyers' guidelines have been calculated at 30-37 months, but her attorney is seeking probation.

Conyers is to be sentenced Jan. 15. Rosendall is set to be sentenced Nov. 30.

In a sentencing memorandum submitted to Cohn in October, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Bullotta and Mark Chutkow said Jackson has "exhibited a longstanding pattern of manipulation, deceit and abuse."