Sentencing for Tom DeLay White Collar Crime Case

The sentencing phase of the Tom DeLay trial will begin today.

The former congressman from Houston, Texas was convicted on the white collar crime charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering on November 24, 2010. The conspiracy and money laundering charges were a part of an illegal plan to direct campaign money from corporations to candidates from Texas running for political office in 2002.

DeLay faces life in prison for the charge of money laundering and faces up to 20 years for the conspiracy charge. Probation may also be an option for the former congressman. Some legal experts believe that Delay will receive a minor sentence if a sentence is given at all. Both of the political parties have their own viewpoints as to how much time DeLay should serve. According to a New York criminal defense attorney, “Democrats will want to see the book thrown at him,” and Republicans will argue that any prison time would be unfair. Either way the judge prescribing the sentence will not please everyone says the criminal defense attorney. DeLay plans to appeal the conviction.

In November, a jury convicted DeLay of using his Texas-based political action committee to transfer $190,000 in corporate political contributions to the Republican National Committee based in Washington. After receiving the money, the Republican National Committee transferred the same amount of money to seven individuals running for political office in the Texas House of Representatives. The law in Texas says that corporations cannot directly contribute to political campaigns. DeLay resigned from the United States House of Representatives in 2006.

Source: The Associated Press, “Sentencing Hearing to Begin in Tom DeLay Trial,” 1/10/11

Max Keller has won countless jury trial cases involving misdemeanors and felonies, sex crimes, and DWI’s. He is a member of the Minnesota Society for Criminal Justice, which only allows the top 50 criminal defense attorneys in the state as members. Max is a frequent speaker at CLE’s and is often asked for advice by other defense attorneys across Minnesota.

Years of Experience: Approx. 20 years
Minnesota Registration Status: Active
Bar & Court Admissions: State of Minnesota Minnesota State Court Minnesota Federal Court 8th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals State of Maryland

What to Do If You Have Been Charged with a Criminal Offense

The Surprising Cost of a Guilty Criminal Plea in Minnesota

Defendants in Minnesota may plead guilty or accept deals without understanding the hidden cost of a guilty criminal plea. A guilty criminal plea, regardless of how appealing it appears, can leave you dealing with substantial lifelong consequences. You may skip lengthy trial proceedings and likely get a lenient sentence, but end up with a criminal record. The record can lead to various financial and collateral consequences, including difficulty in securing employment, loss of housing rights, license revocation, and immigration issues.

What You Can Expect at a Pre-Trial Motions Hearing in Minnesota

The pre-trial motions hearing is a court session you attend after your first arraignment. At the hearing, the prosecution and defense appear before a judge to clear several details about the case before trial. These details include pre-trial motions, evidentiary queries, and constitutional matters.

Refusing Arrest vs. Resisting Arrest in Minnesota: What’s the Difference?

Highly publicized incidents of police using excessive force over the past few years have led to people wondering, “What’s the difference between refusing arrest vs. resisting arrest?” Resisting arrest in Minnesota occurs when you use force to prevent a police officer from making a lawful arrest. Refusing an arrest, on the other hand, involves statements or actions that show reluctance to cooperate with an officer’s instructions without using force.