Rigases Ordered to Serve Prison Time

NEW YORK, June 27: Almost three years since being convicted
on fraud charges, Adelphia founder John Rigas and his son, Timothy Rigas, have
been ordered to begin serving prison time on August 13, after an appeals court
upheld their sentences.

Both men had been free while they appealed their
convictions, which were upheld by an Appeals Court last month. The Rigases were
convicted on charges of securities fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud and
bank fraud. John has been sentenced to 15 years, while Timothy is to serve 20.
The judge noted that given the elder Rigas’s age—82—and failing
health, his sentence may be reduced after he has served two years.

The pair were accused of pilfering millions of dollars from
the cable company for personal expenses. Then the fifth-largest cable platform
in the U.S., Adelphia filed for bankruptcy in 2002 and its systems were
eventually sold off to Comcast and Time Warner Cable.