A former Alabama sheriff who scammed a food bank and church and pocketed leftover money meant for feeding inmates was sentenced Monday to federal prison.

Former Pickens County Sheriff David Abston, 68, was sentenced to 18 months, despite asking for leniency after pleading guilty four months ago to two federal crimes - wire fraud and filing a false tax return.

“Sheriff Abston is truly ashamed, contrite and remorseful for the crimes he has committed,’’ his attorneys wrote last week in requesting home confinement and community service rather than federal prison. “Sheriff Abston’s shame and remorse is deepened by the fact that he has proudly and dutifully served as a law enforcement officer for 41 years, including over 10 years in which he also served in the National Guard as a Military Police Officer. He full accepts his responsibility for his misdeeds, and he also recognizes that there must be consequences for his actions.”

Federal prosecutors requested Abston be sentenced to 18 months in prison in addition to being ordered to pay $86,335.57 to the food bank Abston victimized “to the detriment of the needy people in Pickens County that the food bank serves.

"Abston tarnished his office and his badge,” said Northern District of Alabama U.S. Attorney Jay Town. “He found out today he isn’t above the law. Those who believe they are will find themselves in federal prison.”

“While the vast majority of law enforcement officers are honest and work hard to uphold the law, Abston misused his position of trust for personal gain and will now reap the consequences of his actions,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp, Jr.

Abston’s lawyers released this statement following the sentencing: “It is the privilege of this law firm to represent Sheriff David Abston. While Sheriff Abston is deeply disappointed in today’s sentence, he has accepted responsibility for the wrong he committed and respects the court’s decision imposing consequences for his actions. He will serve his sentence, do what good he can during his period of incarceration, and then return to the community he loves to continue his life of community involvement. Sheriff Abston and his family are thankful for the support and encouragement they have received over the last several months. They know that with the continued support of their friends and community and Sheriff Abston’s personal faith in God, they will make it through this difficult time.”

The longstanding west Alabama sheriff was indicted on federal charges alleging he pocketed $400,000 from the food fund for jail inmates while defrauding a food bank and even his own church.

Abston served as sheriff for 32 years, was arrested in June after being charged with seven counts of wire fraud and two counts of filing a false tax return. At the time of his initial appearance, he agreed to plead guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of filing a false tax return. He immediately resigned.

According to the indictment, Abston as sheriff was responsible for the care and custody of prisoners housed in the Pickens County Jail. That responsibility included feeding inmates housed in the jail. In exchange, Abston was entitled to receive a specified food allowance per prisoner per day from the state of Alabama and other governmental entities.

Between 2014 and 2018, Abston received more than $400,000 in food allowance money from the state of Alabama and other governmental entities. During that same period, Abston—like many sheriffs in Alabama—had a practice of keeping for himself any food allowance money that he did not spend to feed inmates. During that same period, authorities said, Abston engaged in a scheme to defraud the West Alabama Food Bank, as well the Highland Baptist Church of Gordo, Alabama—where Abston was a member—in order to reduce his jail food expenses and increase the amount of food allowance money he could keep.