NBCSandiego.com - News - Court Papers: Cunningham 'Terrified' Of Prison

Corrupt Congressman Faces Up To 10 Years

POSTED: 6:27 pm PST February 21, 2006
UPDATED: 7:38 pm PST February 21, 2006

SAN DIEGO -- Former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham is terrified of going to prison, according to recently released court documents.


Cunningham admitted to prosecutors that he took bribes from defense contractors and made a plea agreement. He faces up to 10 years in prison.

NBC 7/39 obtained letters on Tuesday that were sent to the judge in advance of Cunningham's sentencing.

In one of the letters, which was penned by Cunningham, he tells the judge that it has been hard to endure public ridicule.

"I know that I must be punished, and I will accept your sentence without complaint," wrote Cunningham.

A psychiatrist who evaluated the corrupt congressman wrote in another letter that Cunningham is "extremely anxious and is terrified of incarceration." The letter goes on to say that Cunningham suffers from severe depression and has had suicidal thoughts.

Cunningham is scheduled to be sentenced on Monday.