A federal judge on Thursday sentenced former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort to 47 months in prison, well below the amount recommended in sentencing guidelines.
The sentence handed down by Judge T.S. Ellis III was significantly less than the 19 1/2 to 24 years advised in federal guidelines.
Ellis, in remarks from the bench, described Manafort’s financial crimes as “very serious” but said he found the guideline range “not at all appropriate,” and pointed to significantly more-lenient sentences handed down in similar cases.
Manafort, who appeared in court in a wheelchair and wearing a green jumpsuit, will also receive time served, meaning nine months will be knocked off for the time he has already served in jail. As a result, he will be incarcerated for three years and two months.
He was also ordered to pay a $50,000 fine and up to $24 million in restitution.
“You’ve been convicted of serious crimes — very serious crimes — by a jury,” Ellis said to a packed courtroom after a lengthy sentencing hearing in federal court in Alexandria, Va., that lasted nearly three hours.
However, he added, “I think that sentencing range is excessive. I don’t think that is warranted in this case.”
Manafort’s attorneys had asked Ellis to consider a more lenient punishment, citing their client’s age, poor health, low risk of reoffending and assistance in Mueller’s probe. On Thursday, defense attorney Thomas Zehnle pointed to other cases in which defendants received much less prison time for similar crimes.
In remarks shortly before receiving his sentence, Manafort described himself as “humiliated and ashamed” of his behavior and for the pain he had caused his family. He thanked Ellis for a fair trial twice and asked him for compassion.
“My life professionally and financially is in shambles,” Manafort said. “To say that I feel humiliated and ashamed would be a gross understatement,” “I intend to turn my notoriety into a positive.”
However, Manafort did not express remorse for his actions — something Ellis noted before handing down the punishment.
“I was surprised that I did not hear you express regret,” said Ellis, a Reagan appointee. “That doesn’t make any difference on the judgment that I am about to make … but I hope you reflect on that.”
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JUST IN: Judge sentences Paul Manafort to 4 years in prison instead of recommended 19.5 to 24 years https://t.co/HGkoNsRllq pic.twitter.com/uqNoq5j1oo
— The Hill (@thehill) March 8, 2019
Now, now, Rick, who are we to judge decades of serving caudillos, murderers, thugs, shitting all over freedom in Ukraine, actively working for the Kremlin against US/Western interests. while taking millions from Putin-pal oligarchs for "special services"?https://t.co/PI91tiWQV1
— John Schindler (@20committee) March 8, 2019
/2 A departure from 19 years to under 4 years is very dramatic. It's the kind of departure defense lawyers dream of. It's the kind of departure that's FAR more likely to be enjoyed by the sort of person who commits crimes with banks and wires than drugs or guns.
— PresidentialHarassHat (@Popehat) March 8, 2019
/4 Postcript: I totally get why some people think this shows pro-Trump or pro-conservative or anti-Democratic bias on the part of Judge Ellis. If you believe it I'm unlikely to dissuade you. It may have played a part.
But it's not as simple as you think.
— PresidentialHarassHat (@Popehat) March 8, 2019
/6 That's not exactly a "liberal" or "conservative" position. So, for instance, Judge Ellis has been a strong critic of mandatory minimum drug and gun sentences, which are the reason he CAN'T give a convicted drug dealer a break like he gave Manafort.https://t.co/MMKlrsamI6
— PresidentialHarassHat (@Popehat) March 8, 2019
/8 So, though it's tempting to see "the fix was in!", and I can never exclude some sort of political bias had a role, I think you'll find most federal criminal practitioners won't leap to that conclusion.
— PresidentialHarassHat (@Popehat) March 8, 2019
Wish it were more time, but any prison time for that snake is ok by me
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