Judge's Ruling Portends Long Fraud Sentence For Bucks County Hoax Mom
By Tony Hanson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A federal judge has ruled that the value of the fraud committed by suburban hoaxer Bonnie Sweeten was over $1 million, which keeps her federal guideline sentence in the range of 8½ to 10 years in prison.
Sweeten's attorney had argued that the loss was under a million bucks, which would have lowered the recommended guideline sentence.
The prosecution has been arguing for a sentence at the top of the guideline range -- about 10 years -- for the fraud which victimized numerous victims including her law firm employer, their clients, and even the 91-year-old grandfather of two of her daughters (see related stories).
There was also the despicable hoax. Sweeten triggered an emergency search after she reported in a series of 911 calls that she and her nine-year-old daughter had been kidnapped and were being held in the trunk of a car.
She had actually fled to Disney World with the daughter.
The defense was arguing for a sentence below the guideline range, in part because Sweeten pleaded guilty, accepted responsibility, and is remoreseful.
Sweeten is expected to address the court before sentence is imposed.
