Bit player in Longmeyer state bribery scandal sentenced to federal prison | Lexington Herald Leader

A bit player in the bribery scandal involving former Kentucky Personnnel Cabinet Secretary Tim Longmeyer was sentenced Friday to two years in prison.

Myron Harrod must report to prison by 2 p.m. Sept. 13 under the order from U.S. District Judge Karen K. Caldwell.

Harrod will be on supervised release for three years after finishing his sentence, said his attorney, John C. Helmuth.

Harrod, 58, worked at a Lexington firm called MC Squared Consulting in 2014 and 2015 when the owner, Sam. C. McIntosh, was paying bribes to Longmeyer in order to get business.

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Longmeyer’s cabinet oversaw the health-insurance plan for state employees. He used his influence with insurance companies to get them to hire MC Squared for work such as doing surveys to see if employees were satisfied with their insurance, according to court documents.

McIntosh kicked back part of the money he received to Longmeyer and Longmeyer’s friend Larry O’Bryan, a Louisville political consultant.

McIntosh received $1.29 million from Humana and passed on a total of $854,701.50 to O’Bryan and Longmeyer between October 2011 and October 2015, according to a court document.

Longmeyer admitted getting $203,500.

Harrod had a limited role in the scheme, going to the bank to pick up cash for McIntosh to give Longmeyer, according to a memorandum from Helmuth.

Harrod and McIntosh had been friends for years, bonding over a shared interest in comic books and collectibles, and McIntosh gave Harrod work when his hours as a disc jockey at a strip club were cut in 2010, the memo said.

By 2014, MC Squared had no business except jobs that Longmeyer arranged or referred. McIntosh had told employees about the kickbacks, but Harrod “stayed quiet and cashed the checks for his friend” so McIntosh wouldn’t lose his livelihood, Helmuth said in the memo.

Harrod faced a potential sentence of 46 to 57 months under advisory guidelines.

Helmuth said that in handing down a sentence under that range, Caldwell “recognized that Myron played a small role in the kickback scheme and that he did not receive any funds or otherwise profit from the conspiracy.”

Longmeyer, O’Bryan and McIntosh pleaded guilty.

Longmeyer was sentenced to 70 months, O’Bryan to 60 months and McIntosh to 65 months. Caldwell also ordered them to pay restitution.