Ramapo Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence
“When U.S. Judge Cathy Seibel is scheduled to sentence Christopher St. Lawrence on Monday, the jurist will likely settle the disagreements between prosecutors and St. Lawrence’s attorney on the former Ramapo supervisor’s motivations to commit fraud and how much prison time he deserves.
However, Monday’s sentencing could be adjourned until December.
St. Lawrence’s attorney asked Seibel in court papers filed Wednesday for additional time to analyze the prosecution’s updated estimation of the financial loss suffered by investors who bought Ramapo bonds based on false information from St. Lawrence.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office opposes a delay, arguing in court papers that the estimated loss has been properly calculated.
Seibel will hear the arguments Monday.
Both sides have offered Seibel their views on St. Lawrence’s corruption-related convictions in lengthy sentencing memorandums. Seibel, a former federal prosecutor, oversaw St. Lawrence’s jury trial from late April to the middle of May.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office’s 59-page memorandum recommends Seibel sentence St. Lawrence to prison from 11.25 years to 14 years based on the prosecution’s estimated $2.9 million financial loss to investors in a scheme involving municipal bonds.
Federal probation officials have recommended two to 2 1/2 years in prison.
St. Lawrence’s lead attorney, Michael Burke, in his 32-page court memo, suggested Seibel sentence St. Lawrence to probation. Burke argued the prosecution failed to prove its case and called the prosecution’s sentence recommendation disproportionate to the crimes.
SENTENCING: U.S. prosecutors recommend 14 years for St. Lawrence
LAWRENCE: His sentencing memo seeks probation
A jury sitting at the federal courthouse in White Plains convicted St. Lawrence on May 19 of 20 counts of securities fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy, acquitting him of two securities fraud counts. The conviction forced the Democrat to resign as supervisor after 16 years.”
Read the complete Journal News story here.