Media tycoon Black sentenced to 6.5 years' jail

0 Comments | AFP, December, 2007

CHICAGO (AFP) — Disgraced media tycoon Conrad Black was sentenced to six and a half years in jail Monday for raiding his company's coffers and trying to cover up his crime.

"You've committed a very serious crime, Mr. Black," Judge Amy St. Eve told the former media mogul as she imposed the jail term as well as a fine of 125,000 dollars.

Black was also ordered to forfeit some 6.1 million dollars to the government, some of which could be distributed to victims.

"I frankly cannot understand how someone of your stature ... could engage in the conduct you engaged in."

It was a spectacular fall for the defiant Black, 63, who continues to profess his innocence and vows to return to professional life despite being found guilty on four counts of fraud and one...