Conviction could mean jail for millionaire

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- A federal jury in Memphis convicted millionaire businessman Logan Young Wednesday of paying $150,000 to get a top football recruit for Alabama.

The jury deliberated for about five-and-a-half hours before returning the verdict. The 64-year-old Young was convicted of conspiracy to commit racketeering, crossing state lines to commit racketeering and arranging bank withdrawals to cover up a crime.

Young could receive prison time and a heavy fine. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 15 years behind bars, but federal guidelines would call for a much lighter sentence.

The lead prosecution witness, former Trezevant High School coach Lynn Lang, testified that Young bribed him to get highly recruited defensive lineman Albert Means to sign with Alabama in 2000.

Lang told jurors he got money from two other colleges, Georgia and Kentucky, and offers of cash, jobs or free law school from Arkansas, Memphis, Mississippi, Michigan State and Tennessee.

Former coaches Rip Scherer of Memphis and Jim Donnan of Georgia, and former Alabama assistant Ivy Williams testified for the defense that Lang was lying.

Lang has pleaded guilty to conspiracy in the case and is cooperating with prosecutors as he awaits sentencing.

Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press

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