Longtime Alabama Rep. John Rogers turned himself in at a medium-security federal prison in Talladega on Tuesday to begin a 13-month sentence.

A federal judge in July sentenced 83-year-old Rogers for his role in a kickback scheme involving public money intended for nonprofits.

Rogers, a Democrat, served four decades in the Alabama legislature. He resigned in March and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice, per court records. John Robbins, Rogers’ attorney, did not respond to a request for comment.

“I’m sorry about the whole escapade and I take full responsibility,” Rogers told Judge Scott Coogler at his sentencing hearing in July. “It hurts me to no end. I can tell you, it’s hard on me.”

Rogers was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and must pay back $197,950 to the Jefferson County Community Service Fund when he completes his time in prison.

Rogers is the third and final person involved in the kickback scheme to turn himself in.

Varrie Johnson Kindall, Rogers’ longtime personal assistant, and Fred Plump, the other lawmaker taken down in the scheme, have already started their sentences at federal correctional facilities in Aliceville and Talladega, respectively.

Plump was sentenced to a year and a day in prison. Johnson Kindall received three years for her role in this scheme as well as another unrelated case of theft.

Federal prosecutors said that between 2019 and April 2023, Rogers directed about $400,000 of public funds from the community service fund to the Piper Davis Youth Baseball League which was operated by state Rep. Fred Plump.

Plump then sent back about half of that money to Rogers’ assistant and companion Varrie Johnson Kindall, who then deposited the money for herself and Rogers to use, according to federal court records.

In addition to the money for the baseball league, prosecutors accused Rogers and Johnson Kindall of diverting more public funds back to themselves through another local nonprofit. Court documents outline the second kickback scheme in 2019, in which Rogers diverted $10,000 to the nonprofit, and its founder paid back $1,800 to Rogers and Johnson Kindall.

Rogers and Johnson Kindall also attempted to offer $10,000 from the fund to an unnamed dance studio, but the owner refused to participate in the kickback scheme, prosecutors said in court records.