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  Former Cleveland Diocesan Cfo to Spend Year and a Day in Prison

Catholic News Service

December 12, 2008

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/briefs/cns/20081212.htm#head5

CLEVELAND (CNS) -- The former financial and legal secretary of the Cleveland Diocese will spend a year and a day in federal prison for failing to report income he claimed was additional compensation in an off-the-books arrangement with diocesan officials. U.S. District Court Judge Ann Aldrich ordered Joseph H. Smith, 52, to report Jan. 1 to a still unnamed federal prison. A jury in July found Smith guilty of six tax-related charges after a seven-week trial. Aldrich announced the sentence to a silent Smith Dec. 11 in U.S. District Court. She said she settled on the sentence to allow Smith, an accountant and an attorney, to qualify for at least 56 days of good behavior credit and allow him to serve time in a federal institution rather than a local jail. As part of the sentence, Aldrich ordered Smith to make restitution between $200,000 and $400,000. She said the exact amount will be determined at a later date. Philip Kushner, Smith's attorney, said the amount owed is only $48,000.

 
 

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