48 and 52 months respectively is how much time Larry Langfords bond swap buddies Al La Pierre and Bill Blount will serve.

But because Langford served in the public trust his sentence is expected to be considerably longer.

Prosecutors are asking for up to 30 years. But former U.S. Attorney Doug Jones anticipates a sentence more in line with what other county commissioners like Jeff Germany have received in the past.

And Jones adds the key to a shorter sentence lies in the strategy of the defense.

"What will be interesting to see, to watch, is to see what the defense does to show a different side of Larry Langford other than the side that spends all that money on clothes and things like that, and the financial issues. But the charitable issues, the religious issues, as a human being that had frailties."

And while many people are expected to speak on Langfords behalf regarding the positive impact he's had in both his personal and professional life, the question Langford is asking himself tonight, will he leave the courthouse holding his wife's hand or in chains?

Attorney Glennon Threatt says it's only natural that question is asked. "Nobody's ever ready for that. I don't care how you try to prepare an individual for that. An individual who's lived 60 years of their life in freedom can never be prepared to be taken into federal custody."

And then there are those who believe that any jail time served would be unjust. Reverend Franklin Tate and a number of Birmingham's religious leaders have drafted a resolution of support for the former Mayor.

Tate says that the good that Langford has done outweighs any criminal act of which he's been convicted.

"I believe injustice may be carried out because of a mans personal belief. If one believes he is innocent, I don't think he should be punished for his belief."