US prosecutors seek tougher sentence for Conrad Black

Convicted media mogul Conrad Black has earned the wrath of US prosecutors, who have now asked for harsher sentences against him.

The former chairman of The Daily Telegraph, who was convicted of four counts of fraud and obstruction of justice in July, has spent the last three months courting the media, appearing on talk shows and granting interviews, insisting that he did nothing wrong.

But his apparent 'lack of remorse' has been used by prosecutors, now seeking a tough sentence along with two other former Hollinger executives for stealing £3m, it reported.

'To this day, Black maintains his offences of conviction were "rubbish" and "nonsense",' lead prosecutor Eric Sussman wrote in court filings. 'Black insists he did "absolutely nothing" wrong and that he has been "unjustly convicted"... [and] makes clear that he would engage in the very same conduct again if given the opportunity. Out of all the defendants, Black has been the most vocal in his lack of remorse and his refusal to recognise the offence.'

The US state attorney has publicly said it is seeking an imprisonment for Black for at least 15 years, but a court document suggested a jail term of not less than 24 years.

Further reading:

Conrad Black prosecutors want extra jail time

Call to give Black tougher sentence for lack of remorse

Black's defiance 'may increase his prison sentence'