Leona Helmsley Loses Appeal: The last obstacle...

Leona Helmsley Loses Appeal: The last obstacle between Leona Helmsley and sentencing was lifted when a judge refused to set aside her tax evasion conviction. Helmsley, who is portrayed in advertisements as the queen of her luxury hotels, was convicted Aug. 30 of evading $1.2 million in federal taxes by charging personal expenses to her business empire. By denying a request to overturn the conviction and dismiss the charges, U.S. District Judge John Walker cleared the way for her Dec. 12 sentencing. The judge ruled that prosecutors did not use tainted evidence against Helmsley. Her lawyers alleged that prosecutors improperly used the testimony she gave to grand juries in 1985.