By Hayleigh Gowans
Staff Writer
The sentencing of James P. Griffin, a Cazenovia business man who was found guilty in federal court of defrauding investors of nearly $2 million since 2009, has been postponed from the original date of Nov. 15. It will now be held on Tuesday, Dec. 13.
On July 18, 2016, Griffin was found guilty on all 23 counts of mail fraud, wire fraud and money laundering at the United States District Court Northern District of New York, and he faces a sentence of up to 30 years in federal prison. The court found him guilty of laundering nearly $2 million in two schemes to defraud investors under the false pretense that they would gain financially. One scheme amounted to $1.6 million and the second was $370,000.
Judge Frederick Scullin presided over the case in which prosecutor U.S. Assistant Attorney Edward Bronton stated that since 2009, Griffin had secured donors to purchase “54 Freedom Charitable Gift Annuities” under the false pretenses that the annuities from the investment would provide guaranteed lifetime income for the donor.
The original sentencing was scheduled for Nov. 15, but according to Scullin’s office, had to be postponed due to court scheduling conflict. It will now occur at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at the U.S. District Courthouse, on the 12th floor of the James M. Hanley Federal Building, 100 Clinton St., Syracuse.
