A lawyer in New York was sentenced to serve six months in prison for being an accomplice on a fraudulent scheme in bid to purchase an international men's magazine. The lawyer has been convicted to wire fraud charges.
U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff sentenced Harvey Newkirk, 40-years old with six months jail time in a federal court in Manhattan, after his wire fraud convictions, according to Reuters. Newkirk was convicted to the said charge, after he became an accomplice of Calvin Darden Jr., a convicted con man, to borrow $31 million for a failed bid to buy Maxim magazine.
Darden used his prominent father's name, Calvin Darden Sr., who was a former United Parcel Service Inc executive, in order to tricked lenders into providing money for the said magazine. He told lenders that he would provide collateral.
A conspiracy and identity theft was charged against Newkirk, however, in December, a jury dismissed the said charges, according to ABC News. The two has lured two lenders, who gave about $8 million. According to prosecutors, Newkirk and Darden tried to secure another $20 million to buy Maxim. Newkirk's defense lawyer argued his client was deceived by Darden to engage on the said scheme.
Maxim magazine is magazine for men, popularly known for featuring "scantily clad female models", WacoTrib.com cited. Judge Rakoff ordered Newkirk to pay $3.1 million in restitution. The defendant, whose licensed has been revoked, expressed his regrets over the crime.
"I should not have been so trustful of Calvin Jr. I'll be sure I'm never in this situation again," he said. However, the judge told him he can still reapply for a license in seven years. The fraudulent scheme was uncovered after Darden's arrest in 2014.
He later pleaded guilty and testified against Newkirk, who forge documents. The deal was not successful after the magazine was sold to another buyer.
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