Judge Upholds Convictions

(Reprinted from Amboy Beacon, Jan. 19, 2011)

NEWARK — Sentencing of former Perth Amboy Mayor Joseph Vas and longtime

Mayor’s Aide Melvin Ramos was scheduled by U.S. District Court Judge Susan

Wigenton for February after her ruling early last week against overturning

their convictions on corruption charges and ordering a new trial.

In the Martin Luther King Building and U.S. District Courthouse, Wigenton

ruled that there was “substantial evidence” for the jury to find Vas, 55,

and Ramos, 54, guilty on Oct. 8.

Both defendants were acquitted in Counts 1 through 4 of charges of mail

fraud. They were convicted in Counts 5 and 6 on other charges of mail fraud.

Each count of mail fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a

fine of $250,000.

Vas was convicted in Count 7 of fraud and misapplication of funds involving

a local government receiving federal funds, which carries a maximum penalty

of 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Vas also was convicted in

Count 8 of making false statements to federal agents, which carries a maximum

penalty of five years in prison and a fine of $100,000.

Ramos was convicted in Count 9 of making contributions to a federal

candidate in the names of others, which carries a maximum statutory penalty of one

year in prison and a fine of $100,000. Ramos also was convicted in Counts 10

and 11 of making false statements to the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

Each count carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of

up to $100,000.

In Count 12, Vas was convicted of making contributions to a federal

candidate in the names of others, which carries a maximum statutory penalty of one

year in prison and a fine of $100,000.

As a result of the jury’s verdict, Vas faces a maximum prison term of 56

years and fines totaling $950,000, while Ramos faces a maximum prison term of

51 years and fines totaling $800,000.

In determining the actual sentences, Wigenton will consult the advisory

U.S. Sentencing Guidelines before she sentences Vas on Tuesday, Feb. 22, and

Ramos on Wednesday, Feb. 23. The Guidelines provide appropriate

sentencing-ranges that take-into-account the severity and characteristics of the offenses,

the defendants’ criminal histories, if any, and other factors. However, the

Judge isn’t bound-by the Guidelines in determining her sentence.

Parole has been abolished in the federal system, and defendants who are

given custodial terms must serve about 85-percent of that time.