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Corrine Brown won't learn fate until Dec. 4
[NEWS4JAX] Former Congresswoman Corrine Brown won't learn her fate in her federal corruption case until Dec. 4.Judge Timothy Corrigan said that Brown's hearing will take place as scheduled Thursday, but that he will not announce his sentence for several weeks. Sentencing hearings will take place as scheduled on Wednesday for Brown's co-conspirators, Carla Wiley and Ronnie Simmons. Corrigan also set time limits on Brown's character witnesses. Three of them can speak for five minutes; everyone else is afforded two minutes. Brown's attorney said he plans to bring dozens of witnesses to testify to Brown's good works and contributions to the community. Corrigan said he wants to take the matter of the trio's sentencing decisions under advisement and will release the decisions on Dec. 4 at 10 a.m. "There is going to be an entire two-day sentencing for all the defendants that are getting sentenced," said Randy Reep, an attorney not affiliated with the case. "That is a lot for Corrigan to go over. The idea of ruling right from the bench and having the gavel fall is Hollywood style, but that is not how the law is really done." Brown, 71, was found guilty of 18 counts of federal mail, wire and tax fraud for soliciting donations for a fake charity, using that charity as a "slush fund" for herself and her associates, and lying on her taxes and congressional disclosure forms. Brown asked twice for the sentencing hearing to be delayed, but those motions were denied. A court officer will recommend that Brown be ordered to serve seven to nine years in federal prison, but Corrigan does not have to follow that recommendation. Posted by: Fred 2017-11-14 |
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