The U.S. Supreme Court has denied former state Sen. Charles Walker's plea to reconsider its prior decision not to hear an appeal.

The court made its decision Monday, said U.S. Attorney Edmund A. Booth Jr. The ruling ends Mr. Walker's direct appeal of his federal convictions for 127 counts of mail fraud, conspiracy and tax crimes.

Mr. Walker began serving a 121-month prison sentence in late 2005. He has already paid $279,000 in fines and court fees. Once the judgement is returned to the lower courts, Mr. Walker will also have to pay nearly $700,000 in restitution to the victims of his crimes -- two advertisers of his newspaper, campaign contributors, two public hospitals and contributors to the CSRA Classic charity.

Reach Sandy Hodson at 706-823-3226 or sandy.hodson@augustachronicle.com