Lawyers for Rallo and Sweeney declined to comment Thursday.

Although the maximum penalty on each count is 20 years in prison, Stenger is likely to face far less time under the complicated, heavily numbers-based federal sentencing guidelines.

Lawyer Neil Bruntrager, who has handled dozens of criminal cases in federal court, looked at the guidelines for the Post-Dispatch Tuesday.

There are a variety of factors that could affect the calculations and a 608-page manual used by officials to determine them. Prosecutors and defense lawyers occasionally strike plea deals that call for a specific sentence or sentencing guideline range, and judges are not bound by the guidelines and can sentence defendants more harshly or lightly, as long as they provide the reasons.

Defense lawyers often argue for a break for a variety of factors, including a defendant’s health, age, or lack of prior convictions.

But Bruntrager concluded that Stenger could face years. He will likely be penalized for accepting multiple bribes, if he admits to that in his plea, and for his position as a “high-level” decision maker.