Sun: Powerbroker Bromwell Sentenced to Seven Years

Baltimore Sun, November 17, 2007:

A humbled and contrite Thomas L. Bromwell, who exercised extraordinary political power during almost a quarter-century in elected office, was sentenced yesterday to seven years in prison, ending a public corruption investigation that exposed how a local construction-firm executive spent years bribing the former state senator.

...

"I am guilty of getting my wife into this situation," Bromwell said as a gallery of more than 100 spectators watched in silence. "I'm the one who kept her in. ... My wife's involvement is clearly on my shoulders. I will never be able to forgive myself for what I have done to my wife and my children and my friends."

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The Parkville couple in return reaped thousands of dollars worth of building materials for their seven-bedroom home and almost $200,000 in bogus salary for a no-show job from a contractor controlled by Poole and Kent.

I guess the guy tried to argue that because he was a nice guy and liked by white middle class people and business people, that meant jail was not for him. He will probably not serve in what Fark.com calls "PMITA" prison but seven years for a man with kids is real. His wife gets time also and they perhaps alternate so that the kids will have a parent at home. Whether the kids would actually be better in foster care is another blogger's guess.

It doesn't get a whole lot more blatant than a $200K no show job for construction contract steering. Poole and Kent is a major construction company in this area and they are facing serious problems also. Even Tony Soprano would have hesitated with this one.