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Former Broward Sheriff Gets Prison For Corruption

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The Associated Press

Published: November 17, 2007

FORT LAUDERDALE - Former Broward County Sheriff Ken Jenne, once the county's most powerful politician, was sentenced Friday to a year and a day in prison after pleading guilty to federal corruption charges.

Jenne had hoped to avoid jail time for the tax evasion and mail fraud charges, arguing that his ruined career and destroyed reputation combined with his decades of exemplary public service warranted only probation.

U.S. District Judge William Dimitrouleas rejected that argument.

"It doesn't promote respect for the law if the public views someone as getting a slap on the wrist," Dimitrouleas said at a sentencing hearing. "It is important to deter other individuals from criminal activity."
Federal prosecutors had sought a two-year sentence, saying that Jenne's pattern of using his position as the county's chief law enforcement official for personal gain had done immense damage to the 6,300-employee Broward Sheriff's Office and harmed public trust in government.

"The people of Broward County shouldn't have to choose between leaders who are effective and those who are law-abiding. They are entitled to both," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Axelrod.

After the hearing, Miami U.S. Attorney R. Alexander Acosta issued a statement saying Jenne got off too lightly.

"If as a community, we believe that public corruption and white collar crimes cause as much harm as violent crime, we must insist on significant terms of imprisonment for public and corporate criminals," Acosta said.

Although Dimitrouleas insisted on jail time, he also gave Jenne a break because inmates must serve every day of a one-year prison term. By making it a year and a day, the judge made Jenne eligible for release in as little as nine months for good behavior, said his attorney, David Bogenschutz.

"Judge Dimitrouleas did a very kind thing," Bogenschutz said.

Jenne, 60, was taken into custody immediately and will likely serve his sentence at a minimum-security prison camp, possibly one south of Miami that is home to former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega.

The sentence came after a three-hour hearing featuring a who's who of Broward County's top public figures speaking on Jenne's behalf, including former state Attorney General Bob Butterworth.

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