For the third time, the sentencing date for Hoboken politico Frank Raia, convicted of vote-by-mail fraud by a jury of his peers this summer, has been postponed.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Raia, along with Dio Braxton, is now set to be sentenced on November 19th at 10 a.m. after being scheduled for Thursday, November 14th, according to the latest court filings in the case. No reason was listed for the latest delay.f
Raia, who, six years ago, was seeking a council-at-large seat and also pushing to loosen the city’s rent control laws via a ballot question, had some of his closest political allies testify against him at trial – a move that many interested parties believe sealed his fate.
He was convicted on June 26th, largely due to the testimony of cooperating witnesses Matt Calicchio, Michael Holmes, and Freddy Frazier.
His counsel filed a motion for a new trial on June 9th, later claiming in an August 9th brief that the testimony of the aforementioned trio could not be trusted since they were trying to “avoid prosecution or severe sentences.â€
Raia faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.