The guilt and conviction of both Ifeanyichukwu Eric
Abakporo, and Latanya Pierce, was never in doubt. Both were convicted in a
wide-ranging series of illegal transactions in New York City defrauding banks,
mortgage lenders, property owners, and property buyers in 2013. It was now a
matter of the sentencing, and what sort of punishment each would receive in the
case. Yet, their attorneys have delayed sentencing over the last nine months on
a number of legal procedures, postponements, and technicalities.
The presiding judge
in the federal case, US District Judge Shira A. Scheindlin, made it clear
several times during the Wednesday hearing that legal proceedings would not
change the sentencing, but that she would have to listen to the final arguments
by the defense. She had to do so, by law. Both defendants in this case face up
to 30 years behind bars for what the government called ‘egregious offenses,’
that not only drew the attention of New York State’s Attorney General, but also
the attention of federal officials.
Abakporo was found guilty of the federal charges of
conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and bank
transfer fraud, involving at least two mortgage property lenders. While Latanya
Pierce, who was also found guilty on all three counts, faces the same
predicament. Both were absent in the
courtroom for today’s hearing.
Judge Scheindlin set the sentencing date in this case for May
28th at 2:30 pm, New York time. Looking at the government attorneys in her
closing statements she said that they ‘still had a lot of homework to do in
this case.’ But the last words she uttered have set the stage for the May 28th
date. She simply said that she is “anxious to do the sentences,” and abruptly
ended the day of legal bickering, and nit-picking.
Culled from saharareporters.com
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