Rigases’ Request for New Trial Is Rejected

Adelphia Communications Corp. founder John Rigas and his son Timothy, who face sentencing April 18 on fraud and conspiracy charges, lost their bid for a new accounting fraud trial.

U.S. District Judge Leonard Sand in federal court in New York rejected claims by John Rigas, 80, and Timothy Rigas, 48, that a U.S. prosecutor knew a witness lied to jurors.

The defendants claimed that Assistant U.S. Atty. Richard Owens knew that Adelphia consultant Robert DiBella falsely told jurors that the family owed $3.2 billion to Adelphia.

The ruling eliminated one of the last hurdles between the two men and sentencing.