Go directly to jail, appeals court tells Sampson

Disgraced ex-state Sen. John Sampson must surrender next month to start serving his sentence for corruption, an appeals court quickly ruled Tuesday.

The decision from the Second Circuit came hours after Sampson and his lawyer appeared in court to argue that the fallen Democrat should be allowed to stay out of jail on bail pending appeal.

The arguments lasted just five minutes.

Sampson, 51, who is scheduled to surrender April 21 to begin serving a five-year prison sentence, had faced up to 20 years behind bars following his July 2015 conviction on charges of conspiracy to obstruct justice and lying to federal agents.

Sampson and defense attorney Nick Akerman declined to comment as they left court.

Akerman also declined to say if he was surprised by the outcome.

Sampson was found guilty of skimming money off foreclosure deals while serving as a court-appointed monitor.

In addition, he took a $188,500 loan from sketchy local businessman Edul Ahmad to help cover up the scam, federal prosecutors said.