Ex-RI senator to be sentenced for bank fraud

[The Northerner]

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A former Rhode Island state senator who admitted to fraudulently obtaining $1.7 million in loans and mortgages has asked a judge to sentence him to just one day in prison.

Christopher Maselli will be sentenced on Thursday in U.S. District Court in Providence on federal bank fraud charges.

His lawyers say in a sentencing memorandum filed on Thursday that Maselli has accepted responsibility for his crimes, "threw away his career as an attorney and state legislator" and wants to protect his wife and children from more pain.

He pleaded guilty in November to eight counts of bank fraud, each punishable by up to 30 years in prison.

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-04/ex-ri-senator-seeks-leniency-in-bank-fraud-case.html

[rpannier]

1. threw away his career as an attorney and state legislator"

Hell of a defense.
He committed a series of crimes and his losing his law practice and legislative seat is punishment enough

One day in jail. If I were the judge I'd give him the max just because of the sheer idiocy and disconnect of his statement.

Of course, if I was the judge in Tom Delay's case he'd be behind bars doiing the max for saying, "I have nothing to apologise for because I didn't do anything wrong." at the sentencing.