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New York: US prosecutors asked a federal judge on Monday to sentence an Italian businessman who was the long-term boyfriend of Hollywood actress Anne Hathaway to more than four years in prison for fraud.
Raffaello Follieri, 30, pleaded guilty in September to fraudulently obtaining more than $2 million by misleading investors to believe he had Vatican connections that enabled him to buy the Roman Catholic Church's unwanted US real estate properties at a discount.
In a memo filed on Monday, US prosecutors asked US District Judge John Koeltl to sentence Follieri to between 51 and 63 months - what is recommended under federal guidelines as outlined in his plea deal. Follieri's lawyer wants him to receive only three years.
Follieri, whose victims included California supermarket billionaire Ron Burkle, used the money from his scheme to pay for expensive clothes, meals and a $37,000-a-month Manhattan apartment, as well exotic vacations and private jets for friends and his girlfriend.
He is due to be sentenced on October 23.
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