FRANKFORT, Ky. – A federal judge has sentenced former University of Kentucky basketball star Richie Farmer to more than two years in prison for abusing his power while he was the state's agriculture commissioner.
U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove on Tuesday also ordered Farmer to pay $120,500 in restitution at a hearing in Frankfort.
Farmer pleaded guilty in September to two counts of misappropriating government resources. Prosecutors said he hired friends and expected little or no work from them and used state employees for personal errands, including using them to build a basketball court at his home.
Before serving eight years as commissioner, Farmer was a shooting guard for the 1991-92 University of Kentucky basketball team dubbed "The Unforgettables" for their gutsy play.
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