Conyers appeals sentence, which could have been harsher

Former Detroit City Councilwoman Monica Conyers has filed an appeal of the 37 month sentence she received earlier this week after pleading guilty to accepting bribes in exchange for her vote on a sludge hauling contract. But the Detroit News reports that the sentence could have been even worse, as the judge had initially wanted an even longer prison term.

Monica Conyers didn’t like the 37-month prison sentence a judge handed her Wednesday, but it may have been three months lighter than planned.

U.S. District Judge Avern Cohn began the sentencing hearing by saying he had accepted the government’s recommendation to consider other bribes Conyers is accused of taking, beyond the cash she took in connection with the $1.2 billion sewage sludge contract the Detroit City Council awarded to Synagro Technologies Inc. of Texas in 2007.

Considering that “relevant conduct” — crimes Conyers has been accused of but not charged with — would push Conyers’ sentencing guidelines higher than the 30-37 months calculated by the probation department, Cohn said.

Cohn backed off and agreed to leave the sentencing guidelines at 30-37 months after Conyers and her attorney, Steve Fishman, protested and said they wanted a hearing on the other alleged bribes, which the government presented evidence about during the recent trial of political consultant Sam Riddle, who was a top aide to Conyers. Conyers denies all of the allegations, Fishman told Cohn.

Now it remains to be seen whether an appeals court will allow Conyers to withdraw her guilty plea.