Jim Black on Way to Pa. to Serve Prison Sentence

Former House Speaker Jim Black started his journey to Lewisburg, Pa., Friday to start serving his 63-month prison sentence.

2007-08-03

Black left the Franklin County Jail in handcuffs and boarded a van with other inmates. He will serve his sentence at a minimum-security federal prison.

The 72-year-old Mecklenburg County Democrat led the House for eight years as speaker. But in February, Black pleaded guilty to a federal felony charge of illegally taking more than $25,000 in cash from several chiropractors while pushing their agenda in the state Legislature.

On Tuesday, he was sentenced to eight to 10 months in prison and was fined $1 million on a state obstruction of justice charge. Black's state sentence will run at the same time as his federal sentence.

"It was the most foolish and stupid thing I have ever done. It embarrassed my family and the Legislature," Black said in court Tuesday. "It was improper and I knew it was improper."