Astor son sentenced for estate fraud

NEW YORK, Dec. 21 (UPI) -- The late Brooke Astor's 85-year-old son was sentenced in New York to three years in prison Monday for trying to defraud her estate of millions of dollars.

Anthony Marshall earlier was found guilty of 14 of the 15 counts lodged against him, including the most serious charges of first degree larceny and scheming to defraud, CNN reported. He faced a minimum of one to three years, or as much as eight to 25 years in state prison, the report said.

Marshall's former lawyer, Francis Morrissey, also convicted of five counts in the case, including forgery and scheming to defraud, CNN said.

Assistant District Attorney Joel Seidemann Monday recommended a sentence of 1 1/2 to 4 1/2 years, and objected to Marshall getting bail on appeal. Seidemann told the court he had no problem with Marshall staying out of prison until the first of the year, but asked for restitution of $12.3 million.

Justice A. Kirke Bartley Jr. said Marshall would have to report to prison on Jan. 19, The New York Times reported.

Marshall was convicted in October after a five-month trial. An array of his late socialite mother's friends came to the trial to testify for the prosecution -- including David Rockefeller, Annette de la Renta, Henry Kissinger and Barbara Walters, the Times said. The defense called no witnesses, not even the defendant.