Oregon Public Broadcasting

Three California businessmen who pled guilty to bribing an Oregon prison official will spend three months behind bars.

A federal judge in Eugene issued the sentence Wednesday. Salem Correspondent Chris Lehman reports.

The three men admitted to funneling more than half-a-million dollars worth of kickbacks to Fred Monem, the former Food Services Manager for the Oregon Department of Corrections.

In return, Monem steered more than $4 million worth of business to a food wholesaler operated by Michael Levin, William Lawrence and Howard Roth.

Since pleading guilty more than two years ago, government officials say the three men have paid more than a $1 million worth of back taxes and other reparations to the IRS and the state of Oregon.

They've also worked to win over prosecutors with good deeds. They provide food to a community service program aimed at reducing gang violence in Los Angeles.

Prosecutors cited that service in recommending a three month prison sentence. The men will also serve nine months of house arrest.

The prison official at the heart of the scandal, Fred Monem, remains a fugitive. At one point FBI agents spotted Monem herding sheep in his native Iran.