LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - A Kentucky Democratic political consultant has been sentenced to more than five years in prison for his part of a kickback and bribery scheme that prosecutors say was devised by a former high-level government official.
Sam McIntosh is the third person to be sentenced as the result of a government-corruption investigation announced last year. The investigation has already netted a five-year prison sentence for veteran Democratic political consultant Lawrence O’Bryan. But it was Tim Longmeyer, a cabinet secretary for former Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear, who was convicted as the scheme’s mastermind. At the time of his arrest, Longmeyer was the top deputy for Democratic Attorney General Andy Beshear, making him the No. 2 law enforcement officer in the state.
The scheme dates back to 2009 when prosecutors say Longmeyer used his position as secretary of the Personnel Cabinet to persuade health insurance giant Humana to hire McIntosh for work on the state employee health plan. The plan was that McIntosh would give about half of the money he made to O’Bryan, who would then split it with Longmeyer. In some cases, prosecutors say, Longmeyer directed McIntosh to illegally funnel the money to Democratic political candidates in the form of campaign contributions.
Reading from a prepared statement, McIntosh told U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell he was nervous and that he had been on a “self-destructive path for some time.” In a separate letter to Caldwell, McIntosh said he had a political consulting business for 30 years that “constantly struggled to make ends meet.”
“I know I could have said no at any time, but I didn’t because I was stupid and justified it by telling myself that the work did help improve the state’s health plan and it helped me keep my business doors open,” he said.
McIntosh’s attorney, James Lowry, noted that Longmeyer needed a government contractor to make the kickback scheme work. He said McIntosh was seduced by Longmeyer’s power and his connections to top political figures.
“He was a small man from eastern Kentucky who wanted to be more important,” Lowry said.
Caldwell said this case “represents the most serious of crimes” because “they destroy the public’s trust in public institutions.”
“As such, we have a more cynical public,” she said. “This tears at the very fabric of our democracy.”
Longmeyer received the most time in prison at five years and 10 months. McIntosh is supposed to serve five years and five months, while O’Bryan was sentenced to five years.
Prosecutors have said former Gov. Beshear and Attorney General Andy Beshear had nothing to do with Longmeyer’s scheme. Yet Longmeyer’s arrest will likely have political ramifications, as Republicans often bring it up to criticize Andy Beshear, who is seen as a potential Democratic candidate for governor in 2019.
Last year, Andy Beshear pledged to donate all of his campaign contributions from Longmeyer to Common Cause, a nonprofit ethics watchdog group. He has not done that yet, telling news outlets he is waiting for the Registry of Election Finance to finish an audit of his campaign account.
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