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Standing between his attorneys in U.S. District Court on Monday, he told Senior Judge Neal B. Biggers Jr., "I did wrong, and I take full responsibility for it."
Catledge, 54, pleaded guilty June 15 to three counts of lying about his income to the Internal Revenue Service and to endorsing, depositing and using a claim advance mailed for an individual client.
He faced up to 29 years in prison and a $1.3 million fine if he'd been found guilty in a trial.
Dressed in a gray suit, Catledge apologized to his wife and children, his family and friends, and others. He said "bad investments" put him in a financial bind, which caused him to commit the crimes.
Biggers relied on sentence guidelines from the U.S. Probation Service and noted he could have ordered imprisonment for longer than two 35-month sentences to run at the same time.
"It is a sad day for you and your family and community," Biggers said to Catledge, who has been involved with civic and philanthropic activities for many years.
"A lot of good letters were written on your behalf," Biggers told him, noting his fall from grace tarnished his opportunity to be a role model for other young men.
Some half-dozen supporters were in the courtroom watching the proceedings.
Soon after he pleaded guilty, Catledge turned in his license to practice law, which he cannot regain.
Biggers also ordered him to pay restitution of $731,732, which will go to the IRS for back taxes, and $93,039 to Chubb Insurance Co. of Dallas and $89,000 for Mamp&F Bank of Tupelo.
Catledge's prison destination will be decided by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, but Biggers asked that it have a drug abuse rehab program as Catledge requested.
After the sentencing, the IRS said filing false tax returns is not a victimless crime.
"Honest, hardworking Americans pay the price when others choose not to pay their tax obligations," said Michael J. De Palma, special agent in charge of IRS Criminal Investigation.
Contact Patsy Brumfield at (662) 678-1596 or patsy.brumfield@djournal.com.
The criminal laws of our civilized nation are designed to achieve multiple objectives: punishment, deterrence, restitution and REHABILITATION. Whether or not a sentence is severe enough to achieve punishment and deterrence depends not only upon the length of time meted out, but also upon the loss to be suffered by the guilty, as a result of that time. All are subject to the rule of law equally. But, who among us would argue that we have all used maximum efforts to fully develop our God given talents equally; achieved equal status within our society; and contributed equally to the overall betterment of society? What, might seem to some to be a slap on the wrist, for Bill, is anything but a mere slap on the wrist. He and his family and friends suffer. Other attorneys, if they are whole, will be detered.
Bill acknowledged his wrong and expressed remorse. He agreed and was ordered to pay restitution to the government and those who suffered financial loss. He has pledged to meet his obligaton to make restitution and, if he is able to do so, or makes even an honest effort to do so, he complies with the letter and spirit of the law.
Whether he ever practices another second of law, in Mississippi, Mexico or Morocco, I pray that Bill will be fully rehabilitated and find the peace and serenity he knew before embarking upon a career as a lawyer. Despite his present predicatement, William "Bill" Catledge is, at his core, a very, very decent and caring individual. Like, the rest of us, he strayed. Also, like the rest of us, no singular episode, nor set of events, can define our total being.
I also pray that he will forgive himself. There is life after practicing law. Indeed, it can be a very liberating life, for some. There is no reason to think that Bill will not also find the serenity that he sought for himself and family in other non-legal endeavors.
As a former friend from his distant past, it is my hope and prayer that Bill and his family will be stronger and even more united as he recover and rededicate himself to doing what he actually entered law to do from the very start: Find a niche that permits him to contribue to all humanity. I'm betting that he'll do just that.