Former radio personality and his mother go to court

12:16 PM EST on Monday, December 10, 2007


● VIDEO: Monday in court

Louisville, Ky. -- The case against former Louisville radio personality Todd Kelly Smith and his mother, Sybil Smith, played out in two courtrooms Monday morning.

Sybil Smith pleaded guilty to eleven misdemeanors and was sentenced to two years probation. She was charged with mishandling funds intended for A.L.S. Todd Smith claimed he had Lou Gehrig’s disease and spent all of the money that was raised, on himself.

Under the terms of the plea, Sybil Smith will not have to pay a fine or restitution.

“I think the responsibility and judgments with her son will require he be made to answer to the theft, to pay restitutions of moneys that were taken and all of the gains that were made here,” says David Mejia, Sybil Smith’s attorney.

Today in federal court Todd Smith was formally sentenced after pleading guilty to federal charges of mail fraud, wire fraud and money laundering.

“I think we always recognized the main actor in this case was the son and so I think we recognized the mother was someone who knew a lot about how this was set up initially,” says John Balliet of the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office. “We believe that she played a role, but we never believed that she played the major role that her son did.”

Sybil Smith will be sentenced in federal court next month. Todd Kelly Smith was sentenced to-and ordered to pay-in restitution.
Web story produced by Joann Dickson
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