Today, Detroit businessman Rayford Jackson was sentenced to five years in prison for his involvement in the Synagro sludge contract scandal.

Jackson will head to prison on January 15th after pleading guilty to bribing former Detroit city councilwoman Monica Conyers to approve a multi-billion dollar contract.

Jackson’s lawyer told reporters after the hearing the businessman didn’t expect to receive such a long sentence.

RICHARD MORGAN
JACKSON’S LAWYER
"His disappointed, I’m disappointed. I never expected a sentenced of that severe of a sentence. But it is what it is. We woke up this morning saying to ourselves “It’s in the judges hands, and he’ll do what he has to do”. He chose to give him the maximum sentence under the guidelines and he did."

Once Jackson gets out of jail, he will be on probation for three years.

Former councilwoman Monica Conyers is scheduled to be sentenced on January 15th.