Federal prosecutors are seeking a 60 year sentence for former Poway defense contractor Brent Wilkes. Wilkes was convicted of bribing ex-Congressman "Duke" Cunningham. KPBS reporter Andrew Phelps has details.
Federal prosecutors say it would be "essentially a life sentence" for Wilkes: 720 months, or 60 years in prison. Wilkes is 53 years old.
A jury convicted Wilkes in November of all counts against him. He was accused of bribing Cunningham with cash, trips, meals and prostitutes. In exchange, the congressman secured lucrative contracts for Wilkes. Cunningham is now in federal prison.
Sentencing is scheduled for February 19th. Prosecutors want Wilkes incarcerated until then, but the judge denied that request.
Sixty years is an unusually high sentence for a white-collar criminal. The judge will probably agree to something less.
Andrew Phelps, KPBS News.
