Former WFAN radio host Craig Carton was in court Friday for sentencing in his Ponzi scheme case, and a judge was not as lenient on him as he had hoped.
Carton, who was found guilty last year on numerous fraud-related charges, has been sentenced to more than three years in prison.
SENTENCE: 42 months prison, 3 years probation for Craig Carton
— Pete Brush (@PeteBrush) April 5, 2019
Carton asked Judge Colleen McMahon to consider the fact that he is a compulsive gambler and is “truly powerless over this disease,” but the judge said his addiction is no excuse for stealing money from people. She opened her statements with a zinger at Carton.
Now it is Judge McMahon's turn: "Good afternoon Mr. Carton. Colleen from New York. First time, long time…" AMAZING
— Pete Brush (@PeteBrush) April 5, 2019
Judge says Carton "crossed a line" from gambling to fraud. "A gambling addiction is not an excuse for stealing."
— Pete Brush (@PeteBrush) April 5, 2019
Carton was facing as much as 45 years in prison after an FBI investigation determined that he convinced people to hand over millions of dollars they believed was being invested in selling tickets to high-end concerts. He raised nearly $5 million in the scheme and used much of the money to pay off his extensive gambling debts. The former host of the “Boomer & Carton Show,” which he hosted alongside NFL legend Boomer Esiason, released a lengthy statement apologizing for his actions when he resigned from WFAN in September of 2017.
