Prince Williams/FilmMagicUPDATE: Nida's attorney Thomas D. Bever tells E! News, "On behalf of my client Apollo, right now he feels remorse. He thought the judge was fair, and accepts his sentence, although he was hoping it would be less. Apollo is elated that this proceeding is past him and is no longer handing over his head. It meant everything to him that his mother and brother spoke on his behalf. He's OK, and will get through this."
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Apollo Nida, the husband of Real Housewives of Atlanta star Phaedra Parks, was sentenced to eight years in prison today after pleading guilty to bank fraud and identity theft back in May.
Nida was charged with being in a four-year scheme involving bank, mail and wire fraud and ID theft of more than 50 people. The judge could have sentenced the 35-year-old reality star to anything between 92 and 115 months, but decided on a 96-month stay for him.
According to the local Atlanta Journal Constitution, Nida told reporters as he exited court, "The government did what they had to do."
"Today's sentencing exemplifies impartial justice regardless of economic class or perceived celebrity status," Reginald G. Moore, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, said after the sentencing. "Nida's sentence should be an eye opener for other like-minded criminals who scheme to steal victims' identities, defraud them and ignore the consequences of their actions."
This is the second long-term prison stay for Nida, who was in jail for six years between 2003 and 2009 for car theft charges.
Nida and Parks have two children under the age of 4, sons Dylan and Ayden. Nida's legal troubles have played out on past seasons RHOA.
—Reporting by Beth Sobol