Thursday, June 19, 2008

U.S. Supreme Court regarding the federal statute for money laundering ......

The sentencing of Virginia dentist, Dr. Roy S. Shelburne has been postponed due to a recent United States Supreme Court case relating to his conviction on money laundering.

A June 2 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the federal statute for money laundering is the latest in a string of delays – ranging from a late-arriving transcript of the trial, to the defense attorney’s computer crashing at the 11th hour – to push back the sentencing.

On Monday, Judge James P. Jones of the U.S. Western District of Virginia said the high court’s split decision in United States v. Santos “may be significant” in sentencing Shelburne.

Jones called the decision “complicated,” and “something I need to study further.”

It is unclear what if any bearing the high court’s decision will have on the sentencing.

Shelburne was convicted on March 6 of racketeering, health care fraud and money laundering, and faces up to 120 years in prison and a $1.25 million fine.


Dr. Roy Shelburne remains on bail pending sentencing and continues to practice dentistry but on a “dramtically reduced” level.

The judge in the case did not set a trial date for sentencing on Monday. The defense hopes to argue for a new trial at the sentencing hearing.

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