The sentencing for Hoboken politico Frank Raia, who was convicted of participating in a vote-by-mail fraud scheme in connection to the 2013 municipal elections, has been postponed, according to court documents.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Raia was initially scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge William J. Martini at the federal courthouse in Newark tomorrow at 10 a.m., but he filed a two-week extension (which would end on October 10th) to file a reply brief, court filings show.
As a result, the court will hear oral arguments at a date to be determined and Raia’s court hearing for tomorrow has been adjourned.
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.
Convicted by a jury of his peers on June 26th, Raia is still not going away quietly.
His counsel filing a motion for a new trial on June 9th, later claiming in an August 9th brief that the testimony of the three cooperating witnesses – Matt Calicchio, Michael Holmes, and Freddie Frazier – could not be trusted since they were trying to “avoid prosecution or severe sentences.”
As of this writing, Raia still faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office said that no new court date has been scheduled for Raia yet.
Here’s hoping he gets the maximum sentence and fine!!!
Wonder if Frank’s also using this time to give the Feds more details on his nearly $10k donation to Mike DeFusco’s campaign?
He’s snitching
He still can’t find parking.
ok, gotta admit, that’s a good one. kudos.