Arguments in sentencing former Qwest CEO

As detailed in this AP article, prosecutors “recommended Friday that former Qwest chief executive Joe Nacchio serve a maximum of seven years and three months in prison for completing $52 million in illegal stock sales when his telecommunications company was at financial risk.”  Here are more details:

In a brief filed late Friday, government attorneys also recommended Nacchio serve three years probation and be fined a maximum of $19 million.  “Any less severe sentence would fail to provide just punishment, to promote respect for the law, and to protect the public,” prosecutor James Hearty wrote on behalf of the legal team.

In a separate brief, defense attorney Herbert Stern asked U.S. District Judge Edward Nottingham to impose an unspecified lesser sentence which he said was warranted because of the effect a lengthy prison term would have on the health of two of Nacchio’s family members.  Stern said the situation was explained in detail in a sealed report from the U.S. Department of Probation that was submitted to the judge.

There’s no news about whether Nacchio’s legal team has filed what Ellen Podgor is calling “The Libby Motion”.