'A real tragedy'
John Rigas reflective in TV interview

Less than two weeks before he is due to report to federal prison to begin serving a 15- year sentence, John Rigas is reflective and philosophical.

Rigas, 82, sat down this week with reporter Scott Brown of Channel 2 News in Buffalo for an exclusive interview.

"It's a real tragedy," the former Adelphia Cable chief executive officer told Brown.

At a time when he might be expected to focus on his own trauma, Rigas instead expressed regret about the impact of Adelphia's collapse on the people of Buffalo and Coudersport, two communities where the cable giant had major expansion plans before plunging into bankruptcy in 2002.

Rigas also said he worries about the impact incarceration could have on his health. He has been fighting bladder cancer and also has a heart condition.

Meanwhile, John Rigas and his son, Timothy, 51, await a decision on their last-ditch request for a new trial. They're claiming that a central witness in their 2004 criminal trial committed perjury as he described the Rigases' financial dealings. No action is expected on that before October.

The Rigases are also asking the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals to continue their bail pending the outcome of an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Rigases contend that former Adelphia Vice President Jim Brown later contradicted his trial testimony in sworn statements he made during U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission proceedings.

"James Brown, the government's star witness and centerpiece of its case, gave false and misleading testimony, without which the Rigases likely would not have been convicted," the petition reads. "Mr. Brown's lies (were) carefully calculated to create the misimpression that Rigases were deceitful people who took repeated actions to fool a variety of people, particularly Adelphia's auditors."

Brown, an executive in Adelphia's Finance Department, pleaded guilty to conspiracy, securities fraud and bank fraud, while agreeing to testify against the Rigases. He has not yet been sentenced.

John and Timothy Rigas were ordered in June to begin their prison terms on Aug. 13. The U.S. Bureau of Prisons will determine where they will serve their time. John Rigas was sentenced to 15 years. Timothy faces a 20-year sentence.

They were convicted of conspiracy, securities fraud and bank fraud. An attorney for the Rigases reiterated last month that they will continue to pursue their appeal.

The Rigases maintain their innocence. John Rigas said he and other financial executives at Adelphia relied on auditors at Deloitte & Touche and lawyers at Buchanan Ingersoll in their financial dealings.

Deloitte agreed to pay a $50 million settlement to avoid a civil trial on allegations brought by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The auditors also paid $210 million to settle with Adelphia investors.