Lawyers for fallen former New York State Senator John Sampson, who was convicted with the help of US-based Guyanese businessman Ed Ahmad, are appealing the recent five-year sentence handed down against him last month, the New York Post has reported.
According to a report in the newspaper, Sampson, 51, was sentenced following a series of protracted legal proceedings that wound through the justice system for nearly three years. He had faced up to 20 years in prison following his July, 2015 conviction on charges of conspiracy to obstruct justice and lying to federal agents.
Sampson skimmed money off foreclosure deals while serving as a court-appointed monitor, in addition to taking a US$188,500 loan from Ahmad to help cover up the scam, prosecutors said.
The disgraced politician, who must also pay a US$75,000 fine, is scheduled to surrender on April 21.
Sampson is of Guyanese heritage and has visited Guyana on several occasions.
Sampson’s case has been watched with great interest here as it has a bearing on Ahmad, who is due to be sentenced for mortgage fraud conspiracy. Ahmad’s sentencing has been deferred on multiple occasions so that he could benefit by explaining to the court the extent of his assistance to the prosecution of Sampson.
Ahmad is now due to be sentenced on March 16.
