By By Suzanne Monk/The Meridian Star
June 9, 2001
Sentencing hearings for Comcast defendants Kim Gianakos and C.D. "Bubba" Newell, originally scheduled for June 22, have been delayed until Aug. 3.
U.S. District Judge Tom Lee approved the defense request Friday.
Gianakos and Newell were two of four defendants accused by federal prosecutors of conspiring to defraud Comcast of $2.6 million in a false billing scheme between January 1994 and August 1996. Their three-week trial ended April 13.
During the time covered in the indictment, Newell was a vice president of Trustmark National Bank. He was found guilty of all counts against him  conspiracy to commit wire/mail fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money-laundering, 12 counts of money-laundering and three counts of income tax evasion.
Gianakos was the owner of Gianakos Associates, a local advertising agency which has since been closed. She was convicted of one count of mail fraud.
Trapp has also filed a motion for a new trial.
The government's primary witness during the trial was former Primestar regional manager David Van Colvin. Prosecutors said he was the "man in the middle" directing the activities of his co-conspirators.
Colvin pleaded guilty in 1999 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, mail fraud and income tax evasion. He will receive a reduced sentence in exchange for his testimony. His sentencing hearing had been scheduled for July 26 before U.S. District Judge Henry Wingate.
Two other defendants in the trial were acquitted.
Suzanne Monk is managing editor of The Meridian Star. Call her at 693-1551, ext. 3229, or e-mail her at smonk@themeridianstar.com.