If Judge Hittner follows the government's recommendation, the sentence would exceed the 150-year sentence imposed on Bernard L. Madoff for perpetrating the greatest Ponzi scheme in history.
"Cooperation is critical to the government's recommendation at sentencing.
The judge, who is not bound by the recommendation, set sentencing for Feb. 18.
The judge rejected the jury's recommendation and sentenced Mr. Smith to death.
The city attorney also recommended that Mr. Sutherland be given five years' probation, complete an 18-month alcohol education program and be prohibited from driving until at least May 9. A judge could decide not to accept the city attorney's recommendation and sentence Mr. Sutherland to up to a year in jail.
As is customary, the government detailed her cooperation and made no recommendation on sentencing.
Under the arrangement, a researcher from GIRDS, Daniel Koehler, will travel to Minnesota and conduct interviews with each of the defendants, Zacharia Yusuf Abdurahman, Abdirizak Mohamed Warsame, Abdullahi Mohamud Yusuf, and Hanad Mustafe Musse, as well as with their families and community members, and then provide a detailed report to Davis with recommendations for sentencing. .
But Ardita probably won't do time, since the plea bargain contains a joint sentence recommendation of three years probation and a $5,000 fine.
As a result, prosecutors are likely to temper their sentencing recommendation, and will have to defend their interpretation if they want the court to impose a stiff sentence.
The prosecutor's sentencing recommendation will depend on her cooperation.
