A federal judge had reservations today about a deal in a $10 billion nuclear scam.
Judge Mary Geiger Lewis reluctantly accepted the deal but slapped former SCANA CEO Kevin Marsh with another $200,000 fine.
That was on top of 2 years in federal prison and $5 million he agreed to pay for his role in a nuclear fraud conspiracy.
He will not be eligible for early release as there is no parole in federal prisons.
Marsh, 66, owned up to his guilt in the nuclear debacle that cost 725,000 SC Electric & Gas ratepayers more than $2 billion after SC Public Service  Commissioners gave SCANA-owned SCE&G up to 10 rate increases.
The conspiracy involved other SCANA and Westinghouse Electric executives. It also cost SCANA investors - many of them Marsh's SCE&G employees - millions of dollars when its stock plunged from over $70 a share to under $45 a share.
"Marsh's statement was very brief," said Savannah River Watch Director Tom Clements, a close observer of the case.
"He accepted responsibility but did not apologize to ratepayers or the public. 
"His failure to apologize attests to his character and the judge should have taken that into account in the sentencing.  
"Only the judge mentioned concern for us ratepayers."
Marsh pleaded guilty in February to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.
After his 2 years in prison, he will serve 3 years of court-ordered supervision, according to acting US Attorney Rhett DeHart.  
"The judge said his crime was not a scam or ponzi scheme designed to enrich himself," Clements said. "But that's not accurate as he got bonuses based on the project."
His lawyer asked that he be allowed to serve his term in a federal prison in Butner, NC, and that he report the 1st week in December.
The US Attorney also has obtained guilty pleas from Stephen Byrne, a former Irmo resident and SCANA executive vice president, and Carl Churchman, a former Westinghouse vice president who was in charge of the bungled nuclear construction.
Westinghouse senior vice president Jeffrey Benjamin has pleaded not guilty in a 16-count felony criminal indictment. 
Evidence showed that Marsh intentionally defrauded ratepayers and lied to state regulators while mismanaging the twin nuclear reactor construction.
This allowed SCANA to obtain rate increases and qualify for up to $2.2 billion in tax credits. 
In 2016, confronted with information that project delays put those credits at risk, Marsh and others withheld information from regulators and made “false and materially misleading statements,” according to DeHart. 
“Due to this fraud, an $11 billion nuclear ghost town, paid for by SCANA investors and customers, now sits vacant in Jenkinsville,” DeHart said. 
“Hopefully, this prosecution will deter other corporate fraud in the future.” 
After the sentencing, Clements said he asked Marsh if he would apologize,
"That was met with stony silence," he said. "Marsh got into a vehicle and drove off."

To comment, please email JerryBellune@yahoo.com

Note to iceberg watchers
More than 2,500 visitors check our site daily for dozens of news, sports, business and feature articles, obituaries and opinion pieces.
We offer them absolutely free as a community service. But you only see the tip of the iceberg.
To become a subscriber and see all of it just call us at 803-359-7633.