If only former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell hadn't been so arrogant. He probably could have cut a deal for a year or so in a cushy prison for white collar folks and moved on to a think tank somewhere.
But no, now that he's been convicted of conspiracy, the sentencing recommendations are rolling in.
The federal agency that will play a pivotal role in guiding the sentence of former Virginia governor Robert F. McDonnell has recommended that the onetime Republican rising star spend at least 10 years and a month in prison, according to several people familiar with the matter.
The guidelines recommended by the U.S. probation office are preliminary, and even if finalized, U.S. District Judge James R. Spencer is not required to follow them. But experts said that Spencer typically heeds the probation office’s advice, and judges in his district have imposed sentences within the recommendations more than 70 percent of the time in recent years.
“It’s of critical importance,” said Scott Fredericksen, a white-collar criminal defense lawyer. “The fact is, the vast majority of times, courts follow those recommendations closely.”
See ya in 2025, Bob.
