Manafort asks judge for sentence far below the maximum - court filing

By Sarah N. Lynch and Eric Beech

 

FILE PHOTO: Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort arrives for arraignment on a third superseding indictment against him by Special Counsel Robert Mueller on charges of witness tampering, at U.S. District Court in Washington, June 15, 2018. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst//File Photo/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Lawyers for former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort asked a federal judge in Washington on Monday to impose a prison term "significantly below" the statutory 10-year maximum, saying he was remorseful for his misdeeds and facing deteriorating health.

 

Manafort, 69, who is due to be sentenced on March 13, pleaded guilty in federal court in Washington last September to conspiracy against the United States - a charge that includes a range of conduct from money laundering to unregistered lobbying for the pro-Russia Ukrainian government - and conspiracy to obstruct justice for attempts to tamper with witnesses.

 

He can be sentenced up to five years for each count, for a statutory maximum of 10 years.

 

"We respectfully request that the Court impose a sentence significantly below the statutory maximum sentence in this case," Manafort's lawyers said in the filing on Monday night.

 

"Mr. Manafort has been punished substantially, including the forfeiture of most of his assets," the lawyers added. "In light of his age and health concerns, a significant additional period of incarceration will likely amount to a life sentence for a first time offender."

 

Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team said in a filing on Saturday that Manafort "repeatedly and brazenly" broke the law, and argued he did not deserve leniency at sentencing.

 

While Mueller did not recommend a specific sentence, he portrayed Manafort as a "hardened" criminal who was at risk of repeating criminal behavior if released from prison.

 

Despite Manafort's agreement to plead guilty and cooperate, Mueller’s team in November accused Manafort of violating the agreement by lying repeatedly to prosecutors on subjects including his interactions with a business partner they have said has ties to Russian intelligence.

 

U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson ruled earlier this month that Manafort had breached the deal.

 

Manafort's attorneys on Monday disputed prosecutors' characterization of their client as a brazen criminal.

 

"This case is not about murder, drug cartels, organized crime, the Madoff Ponzi scheme or the collapse of Enron," they wrote.

 

Mueller is investigating allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and any collusion between Russia and the campaign of President Donald Trump.

 

Russia denies trying to interfere in the election, and Trump says his team did not collude with Moscow.

 

In Monday's filing, Manafort's lawyers stressed that their client had not been charged with Russian collusion.

 

They also provided the judge with quotes from multiple character witnesses, including Manafort's wife, Kathleen, and daughter Andrea Shand, who said her father is "truly a good man" who is "worthy of forgiveness."

 

It did not cite any letters from Manafort's other daughter, Jessica Manafort, who has since legally changed her last name to Bond.

 

Manafort is due to be sentenced on March 8 in a separate case in Alexandria, Virginia. He faces up to 25 years in prison under federal sentencing guidelines in that case, in which he was convicted last year of financial crimes.

 

In Monday's filing, Manafort's lawyers asked the Washington judge to impose a concurrent sentence if he receives prison sentences in both cases.

 

(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch and Eric Beech; Editing by Sonya Hepinstall and Peter Cooney)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-02-26

Don’t think you will get much smipathy Donald is your only hope not good

41 minutes ago, Tug said:

Don’t think you will get much smipathy Donald is your only hope not good

SDNY are in the process of filing indictments against Manafort.

 

Trump can’t pardon State convictions.

 

Manafort is toast.

 

 

Using the Thai 'get out of jail' card

 

facing deteriorating health.

Die in prison ????

6 hours ago, webfact said:

saying he was remorseful for his misdeeds

555555555....remorseful my rear end.  Like other career criminals, Manafort is only remorseful that he got caught. 

Good luck with that. Lying to the end...

6 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

SDNY are in the process of filing indictments against Manafort.

 

Trump can’t pardon State convictions.

 

Manafort is toast.

 

 

Unless he can convince the judge of brake failure.

7 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

SDNY are in the process of filing indictments against Manafort.

 

Trump can’t pardon State convictions.

 

Manafort is toast.

 

 

Yep the big fat nothing burger ended up as toast.

Where are all the fan boyz to affirm that the enquiry was a waste of time and that any convictions are ' fake news ' ?

Hardley a first time offender, the first time being caught and found guilty is more accurate. 

This is only part 1 of the 2-part Manafort sentencing. The second part is in Virginia. Will he get consecutive sentences?

No sympathy for this guy. Do the crime, do the time.

what a bummer going to prison at his age probably for many years.

who is the judge going to listen to, his wife and kid, what else are they going to say? And a daughter who wrote no letter of support for him and changed her name.....that says a lot. And his lawyers who are paid to say nonsense. And the prosecutors, yes, I think I would listen to them. Ten years...bye bye. And probably Club Fed anyway.

34 minutes ago, Mansell said:

No sympathy for this guy. Do the crime, do the time.

what a bummer going to prison at his age probably for many years.

who is the judge going to listen to, his wife and kid, what else are they going to say? And a daughter who wrote no letter of support for him and changed her name.....that says a lot. And his lawyers who are paid to say nonsense. And the prosecutors, yes, I think I would listen to them. Ten years...bye bye. And probably Club Fed anyway.

The prosecution have asked for 20~25 years.

 

Given Manafort’s crimes (including those while he was out on bail), and the 800 page sentencing memo the FBI have compiled for him, he can expect to end his days behind bars.

 

Roger Stone has a front seat to this. He’ll need to decide what to do.