It never did look very good for Richard "Dickie" Scruggs, the well-known plantiffs attorney, Dem fundraiser, and brother-in-law to ex-Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS). If you got associates rattling on about knowing where the bodies are buried on a wiretapped conversation, then it's generally safe to say that you've got problems.

And so Scruggs, who was indicted last November, has gone down easy for his "boneheaded bribery scam" to bribe a judge. From the AP:

Scruggs, 61, and co-defendant Sidney Backstrom both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States. Scruggs' law partner and son, Zach, also is charged in the case but did not enter a plea and is expected to go to trial.

Prosecutors said they would recommend five years in prison for Scruggs and 2 1/2 for Backstrom, penalties significantly lower than what they could have faced.

There is nothing in the plea agreement to indicate that Scruggs will be cooperating with prosecutors in return for a lower sentence. So indications for now are that he was the big fish here.