Duke Briber to Stay in Prison

Hopes for a bonded release from federal prison have faded for a key figure in the Duke Cunningham fiasco.

Brent Wilkes began serving a 12-year sentence in February for crimes stemming from his involvement in the congressional bribery scandal. Alleging he was "bamboozled" in his first trial, his lawyers have pushed for a second shot.  In March, an appeals court ruling opened the door to the possibility.

Wilkes has tried to scrape together roughly $1.3 million a judge said he would accept to secure a $2 million bond for release from prison.  When that effort faltered, his lawyer asked the judge to reduce the necessary amount to a more manageable $500,000.

Monday, Judge Larry Burns said no deal — it’s $1.3 million or nothing.  Burns apparently doesn’t have a very high regard for Wilkes: he reportedly said he believes Wilkes is a potential bail-jumper who lied under oath and has submitted misleading information to the court after he was convicted.