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Seventh Circuit questions probation sentence for political fraud

By Douglas A. Berman

As detailed in this local report, which is headlined "Appeals judge rips Vrdolyak sentence: Posner says probation ?depreciates the significance of the crime?," it sounds like a panel of the Seventh Circuit might be on the verge for finding a lenient sentence substantively unreasonable.  Here are the details: An appellate judge ripped into the probation sentence of former Chicago Ald. Ed Vrdolyak at a hearing today, saying it ?depreciates the significance of the crime.?  Appeals Judge Richard Posner extensively questioned why Vrdolyak got no prison time even though he pleaded guilty to fraud involving the sale of a Gold Coast medical school building. When he sentenced Vrdolyak, U.S. District Judge Milton Shadur said he gave the 71-year-old probation in part because of an overwhelming number of letters the judge had received offering character references, including one from Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on December 10, 2009 (boomark / email).