Federal Judge Sean McLaughlin has denied a request from Erie County Council member Ebert Beeman to withdraw his guilty plea in a social security fraud case.
It sets the stage for an appeal and a possible attempt to remove Beeman from office.
Beeman requested the withdraw based on a number of factors, including a paragraph in the plea agreement that he thought allowed him to remove his plea before sentencing.
Judge McLaughlin ruled that the language not only did not promise that, but that it was plain what the intent was.
Beeman pled guilty March 15th to four of eight charges that he used a fraudulent social security card to get credit cards and a car loan.
Beeman says he has had two social security cards, one for Ebert Beeman and another for William Beeman. Many friends and colleagues call him Bill Beeman.
With sentencing set for Friday an appeal to the federal 3rd Court could come as early as Wednesday. Beeman is also expected to fight any effort to remove him from office if the sentencing goes through.
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 WorldNow and WICU. All Rights Reserved.
