Des Moines —
The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the convictions and 78-month prison sentence of former college and NBA basketball player Rumeal Robinson, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. Klinefeldt. A jury in Des Moines, Iowa, convicted Robinson of eleven fraud and bribery charges in September 2010.
Trial evidence established that Robinson paid a $100,000 kickback to a Community State Bank loan officer in exchange for receiving a large loan. Robinson also submitted a fake tax return to the bank in an attempt to qualify for loans; recruited straw borrowers to take out loans that were actually intended for him; used “business” loan proceeds to fund his lavish personal lifestyle; and used his mother’s home in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in three sham transactions to generate money for himself. In total, more than $1.3 million in loans were made from Community State Bank to Robinson or for his benefit. Robinson never made any repayments on these loans and spent a large portion of the money on cars, motorcycles, strip clubs, clothes, a condominium, and other personal expenses. Robinson’s conduct caused a substantial loss to Community State Bank, forced two people to file for bankruptcy, and resulted in his mother losing the home where she had lived for more than 30 years.
During his sentencing hearing, Robinson expressed no remorse for his fraud. Instead, he complained that his mother was not adequately appreciative of the mink coats, exotic trips, and vehicles he had purchased for her and their family during his basketball career. He also compared the trial court judge to the corrupt banker who had accepted Robinson’s bribe, claiming they both had “manipulated and played upon [Robinson’s] ignorance of the law.”
Robinson appealed two issues: (1) whether United States District Judge Ronald Longstaff should have granted Robinson’s request on the morning of trial to postpone the case so he could find new counsel; and (2) whether Judge Longstaff appropriately considered Robinson’s statements at the sentencing hearing in determining the length of sentence to impose.
The Court of Appeals affirmed Judge Longstaff’s conclusion that Robinson was simply trying to delay the case with his last-minute request for new counsel. The Court of Appeals also concluded that Judge Longstaff did not commit legal error when he took Robinson’s statements at the sentencing hearing into account in determining the appropriate prison sentence.
Ravi Spared Prison in Rutgers Webcam Case
Miss. Prison Quiet After Riot; 1 Dead
Obama Confident Afghans Can Take Security Lead
Raw Video: Deadly Bombing at Yemen Parade Preps
Professor: Chinese Activist's 'Spirit Is Good'
Ring of Fire Eclipse Seen in U.S., Asia
Golden Gate Bridge Celebrates 75 Years
G-8 Seeks Unity on Euro-debt Crisis, Iran
Prosecutors: Trio Planned to Attack Obama's HQ
Obama: G8 Unified in Stance on Iran, Syria
