Larry Langford Granted Early Release

BIRMINGHAM, AL - After pleas from activist groups, local politicians and family, former Birmingham mayor Larry Langford has been released from federal prison. A federal judge Friday afternoon reduced Langford’s sentence for corruption to time served due to Langford's failing health.

Langford, who is 72 years old, has been serving his time in a medical facility in Kentucky. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison for bribery and corruption convictions stemming from his time on the Jefferson County Commission. He was convicted in October 2009 of taking about $235,000 in bribes in exchange for giving county sewer bond business to investment banker Bill Blount.

A report by Alabama Media Group said U.S. District Court Judge Scott Coogler, who originally sentenced Langford, granted the reduction in sentence after a request by Hugh J. Hurwitz, Acting Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons through Jay E. Town, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama. Langford’s sentence was reduced to time served and once he leaves prison he will begin the 36 months term of supervised release previously imposed, which will include home confinement and possible electronic monitoring.

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“The defendant has been diagnosed with end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema, pulmonary hypertension, right heart failure, sickle-cell trait, plantar fascial fibromatosis, bursitis, esophageal reflux with esophagitis, dysphagia secondary to a cricopharyngeal bar and esophageal stenosis, sensorineural hearing loss, pterygium, and anemia," the court report said. "The defendant is considered debilitated under Federal Bureau of Prisons policy and, based upon recent deterioration in his health, his condition is considered by the Bureau of Prisons to be terminal, with a life expectancy of 18 months or less.”

There has not been any statement on when Langford will be transferred to Birmingham.

Image courtesy of the Free Larry Langford group