Southern District of Florida – The CEO of SPOON Network Inc. and host of the Spoon Talk Show, Mr. Stanton Witherspoon, previously charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, has changed his plea from not guilty to guilty, according to an agreement reached with the United States
Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
Report by Lennart Dodoo, [email protected]
Witherspoon is also a key player on the Joseph Boakai campaign team.
The plea agreement, officially disclosed on August 24, outlines several key points:
Guilty Plea: Witherspoon has agreed to plead guilty to Count 1 of the indictment, which charges him with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349. In return, the United States has agreed to dismiss the remaining counts against him at the time of sentencing.
Sentencing Considerations: Witherspoon acknowledges that the court will determine his sentence after considering the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, including a pre-sentence investigation by the probation office. The court retains the authority to impose any sentence within the statutory maximum for the offense.
Potential Penalties: Witherspoon faces a statutory maximum term of imprisonment of up to twenty years, followed by three years of supervised release. Additionally, he may be subject to a fine of up to $250,000 or an amount tied to the gross gain or loss from the offense.
Special Assessment: Witherspoon will be required to pay a special assessment of $100 at the time of sentencing.
Exclusion from Federal Healthcare Programs: As a result of this plea, Witherspoon will be excluded from Medicare, Medicaid, and all Federal healthcare programs. However, this exclusion does not affect his eligibility to apply for and receive benefits as a beneficiary under these programs.
Cooperation and Asset Disclosure: Witherspoon agrees to cooperate fully with the United States in the investigation and identification of assets related to the case, including liquidating assets if necessary. He must also provide complete and truthful information about his assets and any transfers valued at more than $10,000.
No Withdrawal Based on Sentencing: The agreement makes it clear that Witherspoon cannot withdraw his guilty plea solely because of the sentence imposed by the court.
This surprising change in plea comes as a shock to many, as Witherspoon had previously maintained his innocence. The case against him alleges involvement in a significant wire fraud conspiracy, resulting in substantial financial losses.
With the guilty plea now on record, the court will proceed with the sentencing phase which is scheduled for November 2, considering the agreed-upon sentencing recommendations outlined in the plea agreement. These recommendations include a base offense level, amount of loss, role in the offense, and acceptance of responsibility.
The Southern District of Florida’s Office of the United States Attorney reserves the right to inform the court and the probation office of all relevant facts for the sentencing process. However, these recommendations are not binding on the court, which will ultimately determine Witherspoon’s sentence.
This sudden turn of events marks a significant development in a case that has garnered widespread attention, and it leaves many wondering about the impact this change of plea will have on Witherspoon’s future and his role on the Unity Party campaign.
