Autumn Jackson, who tried to extort $40 million from Bill Cosby by threatening to tell tabloids she is his illegitimate daughter, was sentenced Friday to 26 months in prison.
But U.S. District Court Judge Barbara Jones left open the possibility of reducing that pending completion of a rehabilitation program in prison.Under federal sentencing guidelines, Jackson had faced between 57 and 71 months in jail.
Cosby, in a taped TV interview on Thursday, said that "whatever comes down is just fine with the Cosby family."
Jackson's lawyer, Robert Baum, argued that his client had been manipulated and naive and asked for a reduced term.
Prior to sentencing, Jackson, 23, made a tearful statement, apologizing for her actions.
"I've had a long time to think about what I've done, and I'd like to apologize to the court and Mr. Cosby," she said.
"I only hoped that Mr. Cosby would be here and I would be able to apologize to him in person for letting him down and causing his family so much pain."
She said she had recently gotten married and wants to start a family.
"I knew Mr. Cosby held great expectations for me and believed in me when no one else would, and I let him down. I'm so sorry," she said, weeping throughout the statement.
Then she sat, bowed her head and sobbed into a tissue.