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Simmons, Wiley express regret for actions in sentencing hearing

COURTROOM SKETCHES: Simmons, Wiley express regret before judge

FULL RECAP: 'I'm sorry:' Co-defendants in former Rep. Corrine Brown fraud case plead to avoid prison

1:20 p.m. update: Federal sentencing hearing wrapped up after three hours. Judge Corrigan said he will hand down the sentences on Dec. 4.

Corrine Brown will be in federal court Thursday for her sentencing hearing. Brown's lawyer, James Smith, was in the hearings for Carla Wiley and Ronnie Simmons, taking notes.

He said Brown will speak at her hearing.

1 p.m. update: Ronnie Simmons spoke before the judge, apologizing for his actions and asking for a second opportunity.

His mother, Frances Simmons, also spoke, saying “We all make mistakes, lose our ways.”

She says incarceration won't allow Ronnie Simmons to repay society as fully as he could mentoring young people.

His attorney has proposed Ronnie Simmons do a radio show as part of his sentence.

11:30 a.m. udpate: Judge denies Carla Wiley's request for "minor role reduction" but grants two motions that reduce sentencing guidelines for Wiley and Simmons.

He agreed to the “substantial assistance motions” that reduce their sentencing guidelines because of their assistance in Corrine Brown's trial.

For Wiley, the judge accepted the prosecution’s recommendation of a guideline ranging of 21 to 27 months in prison, which is a reduction from the probation officer’s recommendation of 41 to 51 months.

The judge also accepted the prosecution’s recommendation of a guideline range of 33 to 41 months in prison for Ronnie Simmons, a reduction from his probation officer’s recommendation of 57 to 71 months.

The judge clarified that his acceptance of the reduced guideline ranges does not mean the sentences he hands down for Wiley and Simmons will actually fall within those ranges. It could be below or above range based on other considerations.

“I've looked forward to this day for quite some time because you get to hear my voice," Wiley said to the judge during the hearing. "And also to say I’m sorry to everyone who has been affected by my actions. I can’t say I’m sorry enough. There was a lot of money taken and again, I’m sorry.”

Wiley chose to make a statement during the morning session of the hearing. Simmons will be allowed the opportunity to speak when the hearing continues after a short break.

“I am someone who made a mistake," Wiley said. “It got out of control very quickly and sometimes when things get out of control, you don’t know how to bring them back.”

10 a.m. update: Carla Wiley and Ronnie Simmons have arrived to their sentencing hearings.

WATCH LIVE: Corrine Brown’s former chief of staff Ronnie Simmons and ex-president of ‘bogus’ charity Carla Wiley to appear at sentence hearings in Jacksonville:

Posted by Action News Jax on Wednesday, November 15, 2017
Original Story:

Former Congresswoman Corrine Brown is set to appear at the sentencing hearing on Wednesday of her former chief of staff Ronnie Simmons and Carla Wiley, the president of the charity they’re all accused of stealing from.

Brown’s sentencing hearing will be on Thursday, three months after she was convicted on 18 counts for stealing from a charity, filing false tax returns and more.

LIST: Brown found guilty on 18 counts in federal fraud trial

James Smith, Brown's attorney told Action News Jax that Brown will make a statement to the courtroom on Thursday, asking Judge Timothy Corrigan to take her decades of public service into account and thanking her supporters.

“The people who are labeled as victims, the donors, many of them still to this day love and support the congresswoman and really don’t believe the charges and can’t believe that she’s in this situation,” said Smith.

Smith revealed that some of those “victims” will be among as many as 22 people speaking in support of Brown on Thursday.

“I don’t want to give away too much, but I think you can expect that at least a couple of those people the government is going to try to list as victims will actually be speaking on behalf of Congresswoman Brown,” said Smith.

The judge won’t announce his decisions on Brown’s, Simmons’ or Wiley’s sentences until Dec. 4

More on the Corrine Brown case
Recapping Corrine Brown Sentencing

Former Congresswoman Corrine Brown hopes to avoid prison time. We're live in the Harrell & Harrell, P.A. Performance Studio with Action News Jax Jenna Bourne Action News Jax, and WOKV's Stephanie Brown recapping her convictions and what to expect from sentencing hearings this week.

Posted by News 104.5 WOKV on Tuesday, November 14, 2017

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