Post by Nubian Ninjah on Apr 22, 2004 15:16:27 GMT -5
Malachi York Sentenced to 135 Years
012303 york
Fallen Nuwaubian cult was sentenced to 135 years in federal prison Thursday for his conviction on several counts of racketeering, child molestation and fraud charges.
U.S. District Judge Ashley Royal sentenced York to 1,620 consecutive months in jail for the 10 charges on which he was convicted.
That means York - who's nearing his 60th birthday - could be released from prison in the year 2128 if he lives long enough and gets a month off for each year of good behavior.
If so, York would have to serve an additional three years on supervised probation and register in Georgia as a sex offender.
As part of the sentence, Judge Royal said York would also have to forfeit his interest in the Nuwaubian compound in Putnam County and a dwelling in Athens.
York's attorney, Jonathan Marks of New York City, said he plans to appeal the sentencing and will file notice of his intentions Friday.
Marks is the latest of nine attorneys York has used since his arrest almost two years ago.
Adrian Patterson, who handled York's case during the January trial, asked Royal earlier this week to let him withdraw from the case and let Marks take over.
Royal granted that request during Thursday's sentencing.
In statements prior to sentencing, York complained that he didn't get a fair trial and that prosecutors used witnesses who didn't have credibility to testify against him.
He also questioned whether rational people could believe York had sex 12 times a day, considering his age and health problems.
York, calling himself Chief Black Thunderbird, said he expected a life sentence.
He said he was being persecuted for his religious beliefs and the federal government wanted "to get a man of my stature off the streets."
Outside the courtroom, Nuwaubian followers distributed videos of what they said was recantations from witnesses who testified against York. Inside the courtroom, lawyers suggested recantation videos existed. If so, Royal said, they could be part of their appeals.
Several court matters involving York still remain.
In January 2003, York entered a guilty plea in Putnam County to state child molestation charges. The guilty plea was contingent on York being able to serve his 15-year state sentence in conjunction with his federal sentence.
There's also a federal civil case against York in which prosecutors want to determine what, if any, of the Nuwaubian property in Putnam County and dwelling in Athens can be confiscated because of York's federal conviction.
On Friday, Royal is scheduled to hear evidence on what amount, if any, restitution York should have to pay 21 of his alleged child molestation victims.
012303 york
Fallen Nuwaubian cult was sentenced to 135 years in federal prison Thursday for his conviction on several counts of racketeering, child molestation and fraud charges.
U.S. District Judge Ashley Royal sentenced York to 1,620 consecutive months in jail for the 10 charges on which he was convicted.
That means York - who's nearing his 60th birthday - could be released from prison in the year 2128 if he lives long enough and gets a month off for each year of good behavior.
If so, York would have to serve an additional three years on supervised probation and register in Georgia as a sex offender.
As part of the sentence, Judge Royal said York would also have to forfeit his interest in the Nuwaubian compound in Putnam County and a dwelling in Athens.
York's attorney, Jonathan Marks of New York City, said he plans to appeal the sentencing and will file notice of his intentions Friday.
Marks is the latest of nine attorneys York has used since his arrest almost two years ago.
Adrian Patterson, who handled York's case during the January trial, asked Royal earlier this week to let him withdraw from the case and let Marks take over.
Royal granted that request during Thursday's sentencing.
In statements prior to sentencing, York complained that he didn't get a fair trial and that prosecutors used witnesses who didn't have credibility to testify against him.
He also questioned whether rational people could believe York had sex 12 times a day, considering his age and health problems.
York, calling himself Chief Black Thunderbird, said he expected a life sentence.
He said he was being persecuted for his religious beliefs and the federal government wanted "to get a man of my stature off the streets."
Outside the courtroom, Nuwaubian followers distributed videos of what they said was recantations from witnesses who testified against York. Inside the courtroom, lawyers suggested recantation videos existed. If so, Royal said, they could be part of their appeals.
Several court matters involving York still remain.
In January 2003, York entered a guilty plea in Putnam County to state child molestation charges. The guilty plea was contingent on York being able to serve his 15-year state sentence in conjunction with his federal sentence.
There's also a federal civil case against York in which prosecutors want to determine what, if any, of the Nuwaubian property in Putnam County and dwelling in Athens can be confiscated because of York's federal conviction.
On Friday, Royal is scheduled to hear evidence on what amount, if any, restitution York should have to pay 21 of his alleged child molestation victims.
