HIGH COURT REFUSES RIGAS APPEAL
Supreme Court deals father, son another blow

Adelphia founder John Rigas and his son, Timothy, suffered another legal blow Monday when the nation's highest court refused to hear their appeal.

The Supreme Court rejected the appeal without comment. The elder Rigas, 83, is serving a 15-year prison term, while his son, the former chief financial officer, was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last year upheld most of their convictions on charges of securities fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud and bank fraud.

Their lawyers argued unsuccessfully that fraud charges should be thrown out because accounting terms were not explained to the jury.

Next step for the Rigases is resentencing based on the decision by the 2nd Circuit Court to throw out one of the two bank fraud convictions.

The two defendants also have the option of appealing their convictions on constitutional grounds.

Federal prison regulations allow them to have a limited number of visitors under strict conditions. They are also permitted to share a room, spend time in a library and take walks on the low-security grounds at designated times.

The Rigases are asking to be reassigned to a federal penitentiary in Allenwood, Pa. They currently can receive mail addressed to either John J. Rigas 53983-054 or Timothy J. Rigas 53982-054, FCI Butner Low, Federal Correctional Institution, P. O. Box 999, Butner NC 27509.