Sentencing Underway For Kidnap Hoax Mom Bonnie Sweeten

By Tony Hanson

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The Bucks County mother who fabricated a kidnapping tale and fled to Disney World with her then-nine-year-old daughter was facing sentencing today for fraud and identify theft, crimes that led to the 2009 escapade.

But because of a number of issues raised at the sentencing hearing, the actual sentencing for Bonnie Sweeten was postponed to a later date.

She pleaded guilty in June.  The prosecution is recommending a sentence of about 10 years in prison for Sweeten.

According to the government's sentencing memo, Sweeten, who worked for a law firm, stole over a million dollars from family, co-workers, clients, and strangers. Among the victims was the 91-year-old great-grandfather of her two daughters.

Authorities say she also forged a judge's signature to defraud a bank into releasing money from a trust fund.

The defense sentencing memo is under seal, not public, and the defense attorney did not return a call for comment on his recommendations.

Sweeten served about 10 months for the kidnap hoax and was immediately arrested for this case upon her release.