Rowland gets 30 months in jail

Former Connecticut Gov. John Rowland arrives with his wife Patty Rowland, left, at federal court in New Haven, Wednesday, March 18, 2015, in New Haven, Conn. A federal court jury in New Haven convicted Rowland in September of federal charges that he conspired to hide payment for work on two congressional campaigns. His sentencing on Wednesday will come 10 years to the day that he was sentenced to a year and a day in prison for accepting illegal gifts while in office, including trips and improvements to his lakeside cottage. less Former Connecticut Gov. John Rowland arrives with his wife Patty Rowland, left, at federal court in New Haven, Wednesday, March 18, 2015, in New Haven, Conn. A federal court jury in New Haven convicted ... more Photo: Jessica Hill, AP Photo/Jessica Hill Photo: Jessica Hill, AP Photo/Jessica Hill Image 1 of / 17 Caption Close Rowland gets 30 months in jail 1 / 17 Back to Gallery

NEW HAVEN -- John G. Rowland, who lost his governorship and freedom to a bribery scandal a decade ago that became synonymous with the slur "Corrupticut," was sentenced Wednesday to 30 months in prison for campaign fraud, conspiracy and obstruction of justice.

Rowland, 57, must also pay a fine of $35,000 and serve three years probation for his role as a shadow operative on the failed 2012 congressional campaign of Republican Lisa Wilson-Foley.

Rowland's lawyers vowed to appeal the sentence.

A shell of the politician who was once mentioned as vice presidential material, Rowland waived his right to speak during his sentencing in U.S. District Court in New Haven.

Instead, he deferred to family members and a pastor to make his case for leniency.

"I ask for fairness and compassion in your sentencing," his wife, Patty Rowland, said.

Her family had lost all of its savings following her husband's 2014 indictment, which cost him his job as a radio show host on WTIC-AM, she said.

But it was Patty Rowland's parting shot at one of the prosecutors that spoke the loudest.

"She just told me to burn in hell," Liam Brennan, an assistant U.S. attorney, could be overheard telling colleagues in a hallway.

Rowland retreated to a freight elevator with federal marshals and his lawyers to go over the terms of his sentence, which was handed down by Judge Janet Bond Arterton in the packed courtroom.

True to her reputation as a judge tough on public corruption -- she presided over the case of former Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim -- Arterton said Rowland had not learned his lesson from his prior incarceration.

"Perhaps it's his lust for influence, but it cannot be tolerated," Arterton said. "What is striking and disturbing is Mr. Rowland's contempt for those laws."

He is complicated

The judge ordered the former governor to start serving his sentence on June 16 at the medium security federal prison in Otisville, N.Y. The wait will allow Rowland, who was elected to three terms and was the youngest governor in state history, to attend the wedding of his stepson next month.

Rowland must serve a minimum of 85 percent of his sentence, 25.5 months, under federal guidelines.

His attorney, Reid Weingarten, characterized the Justice Department's case against the state's 86th governor as a witch hunt by overzealous prosecutors.

"Judge, in my experience, there is not one prosecutor in America that would be interested in trying (this) case," Weingarten said.

At most, he said, the election law violations that took place were misdemeanors or civil in nature.

Weingarten admonished the prosecution for referring to Rowland as a "blight on Connecticut" in legal briefs.

"I thought the language was easily over the top," said Weingarten, whose other notable clients have included Roman Polanski and Jesse Jackson Jr.

Prosecutors said the ex-governor not only conspired to hide his political work on Wilson-Foley's campaign with payments funneled through her husband's nursing home business, but also pitched a similar sham to GOP congressional candidate Mark Greenberg in 2010, who rebuffed the offer.

"The defense thinks that it's trivial. We do not," Brennan said. "This was a full-blown conspiracy."

The plummet has been a steep one for Rowland, who resigned as governor in 2004 after accepting tens of thousands of dollars of gifts from state contractors and aides that included a new kitchen and hot tub at his Bantam Lake cottage, private jet travel and cigars. The Waterbury native spent 10 months in federal prison and another four months under house arrest after pleading guilty to a one-count federal indictment.

"His plea for another chance in this case rings hollow," Brennan said. "Like any human being, Mr. Rowland is flawed. He is complicated."

The main prize

Dressed in a dark suit with a lavender tie and pocket square, Rowland calmly poured water from a pitcher into small paper cups for himself and his lawyers before his sentencing. But when a probation officer approached the table and introduced himself to Rowland, the governor appeared mildly uncomfortable. He shook his hand, but did not stand up.

Sitting in the first row of the gallery behind Rowland were his wife and youngest daughter, Julianne Rowland, 26, both of whom delivered prepared remarks to the judge during the sentencing.

The most outward show of emotion from the former governor came during his daughter Julianne's tearful plea for leniency, with the troubled politician closing his eyes and cupping his already ruddy forehead in his hand.

"I know that it's absolutely essential for my dad to be present and part of my life," Julianne Rowland said. "I can confidently say that he's an inspiration."

The main prize in a far-reaching Justice Department dragnet for political corruption in Connecticut, Rowland turned down an 18-month sentence that was part of plea deal, according to law enforcement sources.

He was convicted on a seven-count indictment in September.

"With all due respect, I don't believe John Rowland belongs in prison," said Will Marotti, Rowland's longtime pastor and former radio colleague.

Marotti, the senior pastor of New Life Church in Wallingford, characterized Rowland as a remorseful and generous member of society. When Rowland's stepson, Ryan Largay, died at age 23 in 2008, Marotti, said the ex-governor was a rock for his wife and family. Following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the pastor said, Rowland personally reached out to the families of all 152 Connecticut victims.

"Your honor, John Rowland is not a bad man," Marotti said.

Strange bedfellows

Rowland is enshrined in a dubious club of Connecticut politicians who have served prison time, from former Bridgeport state Sen. Ernie Newton to the Park City's ex-mayor, Ganim. The list also includes former Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez and ex-Waterbury Mayor Phil Giordano.

"He lost out on a career that had no bounds," said James Bergenn, a Hartford lawyer who volunteered to speak on Rowland's behalf.

Bergenn, who identified himself as a Democrat, said that Rowland willingly spoke to his clients about prison life.

The basis of Rowland's appeal is expected to be that prosecutors suppressed key evidence on the contract between Rowland and Wilson-Foley, who lost out on her party's nomination for Congress in the 5th District. The district stretches from Danbury to the Farmington Valley and includes Litchfield County, Meriden and New Britain.

Not wanting to be tainted by putting Rowland on the campaign payroll, Wilson-Foley's husband, Brian Foley, employed the former governor at the nursing home chain Apple Rehab and funneled $35,000 in fees to him.

Prosecutors are seeking a 10-month sentence for Wilson-Foley, but her lawyers want probation.

Her husband received three years of probation, with the first three months to be spent in a halfway house, and a $30,000 fine for his role in the scheme.

As Patty Rowland left the courtroom Wednesday, Connecticut's former first lady glared at the prosecutors and held the door begrudgingly for Brennan.

neil.vigdor@scni.com; 203-625-4436; http://twitter.com/gettinviggy