BOSTON (AP) — Former Massachusetts House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi has reported to a federal prison in Kentucky to begin an eight-year sentence on corruption charges.

A spokesman for the Federal Bureau of Prisons says DiMasi arrived late Wednesday morning at the Federal Medical Center in Lexington.

In a written statement released by his Boston attorney, DiMasi once again professed his innocence and said he was “outraged” that his reputation and integrity had been sullied and said he would continue to do everything in his power to restore his name.

DiMasi, a Democrat, was convicted by a federal jury in June of conspiracy, extortion and honest services fraud. He is appealing.

Prosecutors said he used his power as speaker to steer two lucrative contracts to a software firm in exchange for kickbacks.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.