In the slammer? Seven?

The sentencing judge in Decker’s corruption case is telegraphing an intention to go above and beyond the maximum sentence — five years — put forth in federal sentencing guidelines. Prosecutors are pushing back with filings noting how cooperative Decker has been.

Intently watching all of this: Jim Black. Black still has to decide just how cooperative he wants to be with the feds. If talking did Decker little good, then Black might not be so inclined to to sketch out the ongoing criminal conspiracy that passes for state government for the feds.

However.

Should Decker get slapped hard, all the other conspirators will draw the conclusion that if they wait until the feds come knocking, it’ll be too late to cut deals.

Put it this way, if Decker gets 10 years and Black 20, the crooks in Raleigh will be bowling each other over in order to get to the feds first.

Sounds like justice to me.