File photo of New York hotelier Sant Chatwal.
New York:
A lawyer for Indian-American hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal, who has pleaded guilty to illegally donating thousands of dollars to American political campaigns, has requested a US court to adjourn the sentencing date to October from July to prepare necessary legal briefs.
In a submission before US District Judge I Leo Glasser, lawyer Jonathan Sack yesterday requested an "adjournment of the sentencing" from July 31 to around October 23 citing the need for more time to gather relevant information for Mr Chatwal's pre-sentence report and sentencing submissions on his behalf.
Mr Sack said that Mr Chatwal has lived in India, Ethiopia as well as the US and "gathering information about his background and substantial activities in these locations has proven time- consuming." Mr Sack said the alternate date in October is agreeable to federal prosecutors.
Mr Chatwal, 70, a Padma Bhushan awardee and major fundraiser for former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, had pleaded guilty in April to conspiring to violate the Federal Election Campaign Act by making more than USD 180,000 in federal campaign donations to three candidates through straw donors who were reimbursed and to witness tampering.
Mr Chatwal is free on a USD 750,000 bail and has surrendered his passport.
The charges carry a maximum prison sentence of 25 years but under the plea deal with the government, Mr Chatwal could be sentenced to a little more than five years and would have to pay USD 500,000 in fines. He also agreed to forfeit USD one million USD.
A statement issued by Mr Chatwal's spokesperson had said he "deeply regrets his actions and accepts full responsibility for the consequences.
He looks forward to resolving this personal matter." Considered very close to former US President Bill Clinton and former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Mr Chatwal had raised at least USD 100,000 for the former first lady and her 2008 presidential campaign against Barack Obama.
Media reports have said that the illegal donations were made to the political campaigns of Clinton, Senator Chris Dodd and former Florida Representative Kendrick Meek.
The Election Act also prohibits making a campaign contribution in the name of another person, including giving funds to a "straw donor," or a conduit, for the purpose of having the straw donor pass the funds to a federal candidate as the straw donor's own contribution.
In a submission before US District Judge I Leo Glasser, lawyer Jonathan Sack yesterday requested an "adjournment of the sentencing" from July 31 to around October 23 citing the need for more time to gather relevant information for Mr Chatwal's pre-sentence report and sentencing submissions on his behalf.
Mr Sack said that Mr Chatwal has lived in India, Ethiopia as well as the US and "gathering information about his background and substantial activities in these locations has proven time- consuming." Mr Sack said the alternate date in October is agreeable to federal prosecutors.
Mr Chatwal, 70, a Padma Bhushan awardee and major fundraiser for former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, had pleaded guilty in April to conspiring to violate the Federal Election Campaign Act by making more than USD 180,000 in federal campaign donations to three candidates through straw donors who were reimbursed and to witness tampering.
Mr Chatwal is free on a USD 750,000 bail and has surrendered his passport.
The charges carry a maximum prison sentence of 25 years but under the plea deal with the government, Mr Chatwal could be sentenced to a little more than five years and would have to pay USD 500,000 in fines. He also agreed to forfeit USD one million USD.
A statement issued by Mr Chatwal's spokesperson had said he "deeply regrets his actions and accepts full responsibility for the consequences.
He looks forward to resolving this personal matter." Considered very close to former US President Bill Clinton and former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Mr Chatwal had raised at least USD 100,000 for the former first lady and her 2008 presidential campaign against Barack Obama.
Media reports have said that the illegal donations were made to the political campaigns of Clinton, Senator Chris Dodd and former Florida Representative Kendrick Meek.
The Election Act also prohibits making a campaign contribution in the name of another person, including giving funds to a "straw donor," or a conduit, for the purpose of having the straw donor pass the funds to a federal candidate as the straw donor's own contribution.
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