TULSA, Okla. (AP) - Authorities say a Tulsa man who allegedly tried to hire someone to kill members of a businessman's family has been sentenced to 18 years in prison. U.S. Attorney David E. O'Meilia said District Judge Terence Kern yesterday ordered that the term run consecutively to a seven-year sentence for extortion that Freeman David Chenoweth Junior received in December. The 51-year-old pleaded guilty to solicitation of murder in February. He acknowledged the scheme was hatched while he was in custody in jail awaiting trial and a transfer to federal prison. O'Meilia says he was sentenced then for attempting to extort millions of dollars in July 2007 from Gary Gilliam, part owner of J&G Steel of Sapulpa. The new punishment is for making physical threats against Gilliam's family. ^

TULSA, Okla. (AP) - Authorities say a Tulsa man who allegedly tried to hire someone to kill members of a businessman's family has been sentenced to 18 years in prison.

U.S. Attorney David E. O'Meilia said District Judge Terence Kern yesterday ordered that the term run consecutively to a seven-year sentence for extortion that Freeman David Chenoweth Junior received in December.

The 51-year-old pleaded guilty to solicitation of murder in February. He acknowledged the scheme was hatched while he was in custody in jail awaiting trial and a transfer to federal prison.

O'Meilia says he was sentenced then for attempting to extort millions of dollars in July 2007 from Gary Gilliam, part owner of J&G Steel of Sapulpa.

The new punishment is for making physical threats against Gilliam's family.

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