DALLAS A federal judge sentenced former Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Don Hill to 18 years in prison Friday for his conviction of bribery and extortion in the Dallas City Hall corruption investigation. Hill was ordered to report to prison on April 27.
U.S. District Judge Barbara Lynn presided over the sentencing of Hill; his wife, Sheila Farrington Hill; and D'Angelo Lee, his appointee to the Dallas Plan Commission.
A federal judge sentenced Lee to 14 years and fined him over $112,000. Hill's wife was sentenced to nine years.
Both Hills and Lee were convicted last year.
If former Hill, his wife and Lee had pleaded guilty avoided a trial, they might have been looking at just a few years behind bars.
But all three rolled the dice and today must pay the price.
What started as an FBI raid on Dallas City Hall in the summer of 2005, culminatesin the sentencing phase for Hill, his wife and Lee.
The convictions came, following a three-month trial, which ended last October.
One of the counts was tossed by the judge, during arguments this morning.
Hill faced up to 85 years in prison, Lee 85 years and Hill's wife Sheila, 55 years.
Despite those sobering possibilities, both Hill and his wife entered the courthouse Friday morning appearing upbeat.
Just ready for this day to address these issues and get the judge's pronouncement and see what God's going to do and we're just focusing on that and just encouraged by the number of people, even as we were walking up here, just offering us prayers and so we're ready for today, said Hill.
Most of the day was spent with the prosecution arguing for stiffer penalties. Defense attorneys are argued for a lighter sentence.
Associated Press and Dallas Morning News contributed to this report.
E-mail bshipp@wfaa.com
