Dudus sentencing delayed again

US judge Robert Patterson has approved a request by the defence for alleged crime lord Christopher Dudus Coke to be sentenced on March 16. The sentencing was expected for tomorrow. Federal prosecutors in Manhattan have asked the judge to impose a 23-year prison sentence on Coke. In August, Coke pleaded guilty to charges including racketeering conspiracy. The New York Times said a sentencing memorandum was filed late Wednesday, by the office of the United States attorney, Preet Bharara. The memorandum said that the federal advisory sentencing guidelines that apply in the case involving Coke called for a sentence of slightly fewer than 22 years to 23 years in prison. Bharara’s office reportedly wrote in its memorandum to Judge Robert P. Patterson Jr. that Coke was so powerful in Jamaica, that he enjoyed virtual immunity from the reach of law enforcement here. Last September, Coke wrote a seven-page letter to Judge Patterson accepting responsibility for his actions and asking the judge to sentence him below the guideline. After a nine-month wrangling, he was arrested in June 2010 following a major operation in May to execute a warrant on him. More than 70 people were killed in the operation. (Jamaica Gleaner)