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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe U.S. attorney’s office will no longer seek a longer prison sentence for convicted legal fraudster William Conour, according to documents filed recently in the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. Conour’s appeal will move forward.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Bohm filed a motion for voluntary dismissal of the government’s appeal on April 15, and the Circuit clerk entered an order the same day dismissing the appeal. The government previously moved to appeal Conour’s 10-year sentence on a single conviction of wire fraud, arguing the punishment was too lenient in light of the crime.
Conour, 66, pleaded guilty last year to stealing more than $6.5 million from more than 30 clients for whom he won settlements in personal-injury and workplace-death lawsuits. Federal prosecutors sought the maximum 20 years in prison.
U.S. District Chief Judge Richard Young of the Southern District of Indiana sentenced Conour to less time in prison than the 14 to 17.5-year range recommended in a presentencing report.
The government’s motion came days ahead of its filing deadline of April 23 for the opening brief in consolidated appeals. “Upon further consideration and consultation with the Office of Solicitor General, we have decided not to challenge the sentence imposed by the district court,” Bohm’s filing reads.
Neither Bohm nor Conour’s appointed federal defender Sara Varner replied to messages seeking comment Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the dismissal order sets a timeline for Conour’s appeal to be fully briefed by July 7.
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