(2006-09-27) Fastow Sentenced

Andy Fastow was sentenced to only 6yrs. Despite admitting to numerous crimes, Mr. Fastow was given a prison sentence four years less than the 10-year plea deal he struck with the government in January 2004... But Mr. Fastow also benefited from a ruling last year by the United States Supreme Court that made federal sentencing guidelines advisory rather than binding, paving the way for Judge Kenneth M Hoyt of Federal District Court to reduce the sentence... But while the deal seemed explicit, the government did not petition Judge Hoyt for a compulsory 10-year deal, legal experts said. "The government could have made it binding, but they obviously chose not to," said Joel Androphy, a Houston criminal defense lawyer... Acting on a request by John C Hueston, Judge Hoyt said he would recommend that Mr. Fastow be imprisoned in a federal penitentiary in Bastrop, Tex., where he can be treated for his dependency on anti-anxiety medication. But the judge said that decision was ultimately up to the Bureau of Prisons.