Rigas Sentences Reduced By Three Years

US District Judge Leonard Sand on Wednesday reduced the sentences of Adelphia Communications founder and former CEO John Rigas and his son, former Adelphia CFO Timothy Rigas by three years each. Sand resentenced John Rigas, now 83, to 12 years in prison and Timothy Rigas to 17 years in prison. The resentencing came about after the US Circuit Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in May 2007 reversed their conviction on one count of bank fraud, citing insufficient evidence. Judge Sand ruled that “a minimal adjustment is appropriate” in light of that reversal. An attorney for the Rigases said they plan an immediate appeal, calling the revised sentences “harsh beyond measure.” However, the Second Circuit did uphold their convictions on 22 of 23 counts and the US Supreme Court in March 2008 rejected their appeals without comment (Reuters, earlier here and here ).