Former Lexington Lawyer Sentenced
{Lexington, Kentucky}...U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell in Lexington has sentenced former Lexington lawyer 48 year old Bryan S. Coffman to 25 years in prison and ordered him to pay millions of dollars in restitution for taking part in an oil- and gas-drilling scam that involved $36 million solicited from some 600 investors in the U.S. and Canada. A federal jury convicted Coffman and 59 year old Campbellsville businessman Gary Milby in May 2011 on charges of mail, wire and securities fraud. Coffman was also convicted of money laundering and money laundering conspiracy. Last month, Caldwell ordered Coffman to forfeit $3.1 million in cash, a yacht and a condo in South Carolina, saying Coffman either illegally took the money from clients of his business, American Oil & Gas Resources, or used funds of his own to disguise the ill-gotten cash. Coffman asked to be held in a medical center-type prison because he has diabetes and arthritis. He was ordered to report to the federal medical correctional center in Lexington on May 16th. Defense attorney Steve Romines says he will appeal. Gary Milby is set for sentencing Thursday.
