Feddie Prosecutors urge 60 years for Puke Cunningham's pal Wilkes

[Hepburn]

Hearing put off for defense contractor

Federal probation officials are recommending that Brent Wilkes, the Poway defense contractor who was convicted of bribing former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham, should be sentenced to 60 years in prison, according to court records.

Wilkes was scheduled to be sentenced on Monday, but that has been put off until Feb. 19 at the request of his lawyer, Mark Geragos. In court papers, Geragos said he needed more time to analyze and challenge the report from the federal probation office, which he received Jan. 15 – later than required under court rules.

...

A jury convicted Wilkes of 13 counts of bribery, conspiracy and wire fraud Nov. 5. Over the course of nearly a decade, prosecutors said he plied Cunningham with cash bribes of at least $625,000, lavish meals, trips and gifts.

In exchange, Cunningham used his influence to steer millions in federal contracts to Wilkes' company, ADCS Inc. of Poway.

...

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20080122-9999-1m22wilkes.html

Soooooooo...the Pukestir gets a bit over 8 years, but the guy who was NOT an elected official and therefore NOT given the public trust, the Feddies want 60 years for him?

What gives with that? (Not that 60 years in not warranted, but even with a plea bargain, a little over 8 years seems a bit light compared with what the Feddies want for the other person involved in the crimes.)

:shrug:

[in_cog_ni_to]

1. Maybe they're using that 60 year threat to get more information?

:shrug:

[Hepburn]

2. From what I read....

...the Feddies are basing that on the amount of profit that Wilkes's company made during the time. His lawyer wants to argue that some of that profit was legit and not all due to the bribes to Cunningham.

What is bothering me, however, is that Cunningham who was entrusted with the public good gets only a little over 8 years, but the guy who paid him off and is not a public servant, the Feddies want 60 years. Seems to me that Cunningham got of waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too light even with consideration of the fact that he pled out on the charges.

Edit for typo

[Bandit]

3. Didn't they set up a phony company to get Defense monies?

I seem to recall they set up a phony company and did not produce anything but took millions of Defense dollars. Every soldier that dies or died because of lack of equipment or body armor did so because the Defense spending was cheated by these two thieves and if they both spent the rest of their lives behind bars it might not be enough. IMO

[Hepburn]

4. That sounds right, but I am not that up on the details of the case.

Since the Puke resigned and pled out on the charges, I really did not follow all of the details.