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Exactly how many months qualifies as a "substantial" prison sentence?

By Douglas A. Berman

The question in the title of this post is prompted by this high-profile federal sentencing storycoming out Detroit, which carries the headline "Conyers should serve 'substantial' prison time, prosecutors say," in the Detroit News.  Here are the basics: Federal prosecutors say former Detroit City Councilwoman Monica Conyers should receive a "substantial" prison sentence when she appears Wednesday before a federal judge in Detroit. In a sentencing memorandum unsealed today, federal prosecutors don't specify how much prison time they think Conyers should get.  But they say her sentencing guidelines would be in the range of 46-57 months if she was held accountable not just for the bribes she admitted taking in connection with a city sewage sludge contract, but for $69,500 in payments she and her former chief of staff, Sam Riddle, received from various business people with matters before the Detroit City Council or the city pension fund...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on March 09, 2010 (boomark / email).