Lynne Stewart Appeal - 28 Months Becomes 10 Years

(New York City) Originally found guilty on 2005 of aiding terrorist Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman, attorney Lynne Stewart appealed her conviction in 2009. Her original sentence was 28 months.

Yesterday, the U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the original conviction and re-sentenced 70-year-old Stewart.

Ruling that the original sentence of 28 months needed "enhancement" for terrorism, perjury and abuse of her position of trust as a lawyer, the appeals court gave Stewart 10 years in federal prison.

"Lynne Stewart broke the oath she swore as an attorney and now stands sentenced in the system of laws that she betrayed," U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said Thursday in a statement issued by the Justice Department.

The new sentence extends her stay in the slammer by seven years and eight months. Stewart has likely collected her last retainer. Heh.