The good news for former Browns receiver Reggie Rucker is that he received the lowest possible federal prison sentence he was facing for embezzlement. The bad news for Rucker is that he’s still going to federal prison.
Via WKYC.com, a federal judge earlier this week sentenced Rucker to 21 months. Rucker’s lawyers and prosecutors had agreed via a plea deal to a potential range of 21 to 27 months.
Rucker admitted to stealing more than $110,000 from a charity he ran. Prosecutors reportedly believed he took even more than they were prepared to prove in court.
The presiding judge previously delayed sentencing so that more information could be gathered regarding the brain injuries suffered by Rucker during his career. It’s unknown whether that information contributed to the decision to impose the lowest possible sentence, but Rucker’s lawyers reiterated their argument during the sentencing hearing.
“This is not a defense,” attorney Michael Hennenberg said. “We all have in the front of our brain parts that control impulsive and compulsive behavior and parts of these have been knocked off. . . . They are not there any more.”
Prosecutor Carole Rendon strongly disagreed.
“This is not impulsive conduct,” she argued. “This is conduct that went on for five years. It was not just the money he stole, but all the efforts to conceal his criminal conduct.”
Regardless, the judge opted for the lowest sentence available under the terms of the agreement. Rucker also will pay $110,841 in restitution.
