Thursday, October 02, 2014

Another monster sentence

This time it's 27 years for mortgage fraud. 27 YEARS! And that's less than the prosecutor was asking for...

From the Tampa Bay Times:

Florida developer Domenic Rabuffo was sentenced Tuesday to more than 27 years in federal prison for a North Carolina mortgage fraud scheme that bilked four major banks out of more than $50 million in loans made to dozens of Floridians who posed as straw buyers.

The Miami man, now 78, is likely to spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Since he was jailed without bail after his indictment in January, Rabuffo has been hospitalized several times and had carotid surgery to restore the flow of blood to his brain. His lawyers say he also has diabetes and a degenerative spinal disc problem that has in a wheelchair.

U.S. District Judge K. Michael Moore noted that the mortgage fraud scheme contributed to the country’s economic decline and indicated his sentence was partially designed to deter others.

Rabuffo is appealing the jury verdict that found him and several others guilty of conspiracy to commit mortgage fraud and multiple counts of bank fraud.

Rabuffo’s lawyer at sentencing Tuesday in Miami said a 60 month sentence would be appropriate.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Dwayne Williams asked for the 327 month sentence, slightly more than 27 years and at the top of the sentencing guidelines for a defendant with his record.

UPDATE -- Meantime, Scott Rothstein's ex-partner Stuart Rosenfeldt was sentenced this morning by Judge Cooke to a 33-month prison term on conspiracy conviction.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Another assault of the right to go to trial.

Fake Jose Padilla said...

Can I take Shipley's depo in the Kahn case? I have a great conference room in South Carolina we can use - no need to waste money on a lawyer for the deponent.

Anonymous said...

The Rothstein conspirators are skating. Such a joke.

Anonymous said...

Have some self respect - don't bring your son into this mess.

Anonymous said...

Dwayne "The Hammer" Williams!

Anonymous said...

Who asks for a sentence at the top of the guidelines for a 78 year old man? As if the low-end isn't a death sentence. Ridiculous. Department of Injustice.

MC Waste Services, Inc said...

Rabuffo is a bad name to have in prison

Anonymous said...

"You tainted law enforcement, tainted the Florida Bar ........"

Here it comes 3.

Anonymous said...

'Bout time white collar def. got what drug def's usually get

Anonymous said...

I don't see a problem here - except for the fact that the Rothstein people are getting off too easy....

Anonymous said...

Your headline is not correct. The prosecutor asked for a high end sentence and the judge imposed one--327 months. Other articles on the case talk about how the defendant had previously done a $20 million bank fraud in New York and received a probationary sentence after cooperating.

Anonymous said...

Careful meeester markooos....you will receive no advanced warning, nooo cat and mouse from Judge Moore, like the preeeveeous chief judge, you will only see your heeed eeen a box.

Anonymous said...

The whole system's bankrupt

Anonymous said...

Isn't it odd that almost every USAO press release involving CP is a Moore sentencing? Is that because he is the only one that always gives the max, or because they used to game the system by filing the vast majority of their CP cases in the district office in which he was the primary judge?

Unknown said...

This is still a disaster area. Only 1 home was ever completed. The other homes have no water, sewer and there is no road maintenance on these gravel roads. Those that still own partially finished homes now have what was to be million dollar homes that have been selling from about $75,000 - $130,000. Homes are unfinished with tree's growing through decking. This was a disaster that not only defrauded banks, but property owners. http://www.highlandscashiersproperties.com