OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The former leader of the Oklahoma Senate wants a federal judge to sentence him to probation on a bribery conviction.
Former Senate President Pro Tem Mike Morgan made the request Friday in a pre-sentence memorandum filed in U.S. District Court in Oklahoma City.
Morgan was convicted of bribery by a 12-member jury in March. Federal prosecutors alleged payments — disguised as legal fees — were made to Morgan by a business that owned assisted-living centers in exchange for favorable treatment in the Legislature.
The jury cleared Morgan or deadlocked on other charges.
Bribery is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. But Morgan says he should receive probation because of his many years of public service.
His memo is accompanied by more than 400 testimonial letters asking for leniency.