Former New York Islanders co-owner Stephen Walsh is entitled to a re-sentencing that could shorten his 20-year prison term for securities fraud, a Manhattan federal judge ruled on Thursday.
U.S. District Judge Loretta Preska granted Walsh’s request to reconsider the 2014 sentence after finding that his lawyers provided “ineffective assistance” in agreeing to a plea that waived any right to appeal -- even if he got the 20-year maximum -- without any benefit in return.
“The court is convinced that Petitioner was not effectively represented twice - once when the appeal waiver was effected without consideration and again when this waiver was not raised by appellate counsel,” Preska wrote.