- 13 - here, sentenced to 19 years' imprisonment, and fined $200,000. A lien for $9.5 million was recorded against petitioner. In hopes of obtaining a lighter sentence, petitioner entered into agreements to cooperate with authorities and testify at the criminal trials of some of Ben's associates. The agreements were never carried out because petitioner, by his own admission, lied to the Government during the initial depositions.12 However, petitioner ultimately did testify both at a civil forfeiture trial adjunct to his own criminal trial and at the criminal trial of Fainsbert and Michael Gilbert, in an effort to reduce his sentence.13 2. The Tax Years in Issue. During 1985-87, petitioner helped launder profits of Ben's marijuana smuggling operations. During 1985 and 1986, as part of 12Petitioner testified at the civil forfeiture trial adjunct to his criminal trial that he lied at the deposition to protect Allsworth, his longstanding friend and attorney for Ben's criminal enterprise. However, as he testified at the civil forfeiture trial on cross-examination, petitioner was also apparently concerned about the possible effects of his testimony on any possible criminal indictment that could result against Maxine as well as on his own exposure to further criminal prosecution. Cross-examination at the civil forfeiture trial also brought out that petitioner also lied to conceal the $9.5 million left in limbo in Europe in the aftermath of petitioner's abortive attempts to recover the card club investment. At the Fainsbert- Michael Gilbert criminal trial, he also testified to this lie. 13Petitioner denied that the Government offered him inducements for his actual testimony at the Fainsbert/Michael Gilbert criminal trial. He testified that the Government would make a "recommendation" only to the judge about his future incarceration.Page: Previous 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Next
Last modified: May 25, 2011