Sentencing hearing for Cooper delayed until December

The sentencing hearing for former representative Nathan Cooper, facing up to 15 years on federal immigration fraud charges, has been delayed until Dec. 10.

Acting at the request of assistant federal prosecutor Jim Crowe, U.S. District Judge Jean C. Hamilton granted the delay -- the third postponement since Cooper pleaded guilty to two felonies Aug. 9.

Crowe gave no reason for seeking the delay in paperwork filed with the court. Jan Diltz, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney's office in St. Louis, said Crowe was out of the office and she was unaware of the reason for the latest delay.

Cooper had originally been scheduled for sentencing Oct. 19. At the request of Cooper's attorney, Joel Schwartz, Hamilton delayed the sentencing first to Oct. 26, then later moved it to Nov. 21.

Cooper, a lawyer and Cape Girardeau Republican, admitted violating provisions of immigration laws established to bring temporary, seasonal workers to the United States as drivers for trucking companies. Cooper set up shell companies to mask the true employers of the workers.

The truck drivers came to the U.S. for permanent employment using false documents for temporary workers.

Based on federal sentencing guidelines, Crowe has said Cooper can expect to be sentenced to 30 to 37 months in a federal prison.

Cooper resigned his seat in the Missouri House on Aug. 14. He has been suspended from working as a lawyer by the Missouri Supreme Court and the federal courts. He has agreed to pay $50,000 as a forfeiture of his gains from the scheme to bring workers illegally into the United States.

A special election to fill the 158th District Missouri House seat left vacant by Cooper's resignation will be held Feb. 5.

rkeller@semissourian.com

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