Savannah attorney sentenced to 9 years

SAVANNAH - A former Savannah lawyer accused of money laundering and bank fraud was sentenced Wednesday to 9 years in prison. <br> <br> Chatham County Superior Court Judge B. Avant Edenfield also ordered Clarence Martin to pay restitution and spend five months on probation upon release from prison. <br> <br> Investigators accused Martin of depositing two stolen checks totaling more than $1.4 million into bank accounts in 1998 and disbursing the money to hide where it came from. He was disbarred in 1997. <br> <br> Martin, 58, was convicted Nov. 15 of 133 counts of financial crimes, including money laundering, bank fraud and making false statements. <br> <br> ``This is one of the most difficult days of my life,&#39;&#39; Martin told the judge. ``I have always stood up to whatever obligations I face, and I do that today.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> He said he planned to appeal the conviction. <br> <br> ``He&#39;s going to be at least 69 years old, if he lives to be that old, when he gets out of prison,&#39;&#39; defense attorney Greg Sapp said. ``What he&#39;s looking at, essentially equates to a life sentence.&#39;&#39;