By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – A jury in New York City will begin deliberations this morning to decide the fate of Adelphia Communications founder John Rigas and his sons after a four-and-a-half month trial for their alleged roles in the Adelphia financial scandal.
John Rigas, sons Michael and Timothy, and another executive, Michael Mulcahey, each face a minimum of 15 to 20 years in prison if convicted.
They are charged with multiple counts of conspiracy, wire fraud, securities fraud and bank fraud.
Lawyers for the Rigases argued their clients were unaware of the Adelphia's financial problems.
Michael Anderson, who covered the trial for the Wellsville Daily Reporter, said Michael Rigas' lawyers were especially effective.
"They really presented the case very well. I think a lot of kudos should go to Michael Rigas' lawyer, Andrew Lavander, as well as his other counsel, Kevin O'Brien, who is actually a Rochester guy," said Anderson.
"They did a heck of a job of really showing the jury, that hey, our client Michael Rigas, he had nothing to do with this."
Prosecutors, meantime, sought to build a case that the Rigas family used company funds and loans to pay for everything from a golf course to movie financing and flights on the company jet for celebrities.
Before adjourning for the weekend, U.S. District Court Judge Leonard Sand told jurors, "We'll start bright and fresh Monday."
Anderson said he expects a verdict sometime this week.
"I wouldn't be surprised if they wrapped it by Friday," said Anderson. "I don't think we're going have an O.J. situation here though where they come out with a verdict seventy-two minutes later."
Jury deliberations follow an 18-week trial in which much of the evidence and testimony centered on complicated accounting issues.
The trial has lasted 6 weeks longer than the judge initially expected.