Bondsman Sentenced to 75 yrs. in Prison

James L. "Jamie" Butler was sentenced Friday to 75 years in prison on securities fraud charges after being described as a "financial predator" by prosecutors.

Butler, a disbarred attorney who ran his family's Jail Busters bond business, was convicted of securities fraud and related charges in July. Prosecutors argued Butler failed to tell investors he wasn't registered to sell shares of Jail Busters and failed to report that he had a criminal record. Based on the charges, he faced a sentence of between 10 years and life in prison. Prosecutors asked for a sentence of between 60 years and life.

Prosecutor Randy McNeill of the Alabama Securities Commission urged the court to advise prison officials not to let Butler out early for work release.

"No person, no business person is safe from his schemes and his lies," McNeill said. "We would object to any possibility of early parole. The Corrections Department might look at him as just a white-collar criminal and not dangerous, but I would submit he is as much a danger as someone who uses a knife or a gun in a robbery."

Butler told the court that he has tried to figure out where things went wrong on the deal, because he thought it was a opportunity for everybody to make a lot of money and investors did make a lot of money.

"I'm sorry people got hurt; that was never my intention," Butler said.

Circuit Judge Brian Howell of Anniston, who presided over Butler's trial and sentencing after the judges in Madison County removed themselves from the case, wasn't impressed by Butler's address.

Howell told Butler he didn't see any remorse from him. Howell also seemed to agree with prosecutors that Butler was as dangerous as someone who uses a knife or gun in a robbery.

"You took people's life savings ?you're probably worse," Howell said. "You look someone in the eye, while acting like their best friend, while you've got your hand in their pocket taking everything they have."

After the sentencing, Butler's attorney, Bruce Gardner, said he certainly doesn't equate someone who sticks a gun in a victim's face with "theft by fountain pen," but he accepted the judge's point of view.

Madison-based Pastor John Dees of CrossPointe Church spoke on Butler's behalf, saying he had been a faithful church member and did a number of wonderful things for children.

Dees asked for leniency for Butler, but under questioning by Marshall County District Attorney Steve Marshall, said he was in court in a pastoral role for Butler, and said the court should do what it needs to do. Dees also expressed concern for the victims in the fraud case.

Prosecutors suggested Butler should pay $170,000 in restitution to investors in Jail Busters.

"We're absolutely thrilled with the sentence," McNeill said. "Justice was finally meted out. It took a while, but he got it."

Butler's father, James Butler Sr., was in court Friday before his son. He entered a guilty plea to a single count of misdemeanor solicitation of securities fraud and was ordered to pay $50,000 in restitution and sentenced to a year in jail. Butler, who has been in jail for 107 days, was released for time served. He still faces a charge of terrorist threats, allegedly made to court officials.