Miell sentencing hearing starts Tuesday

The sentencing hearing for Cedar Rapids landlord Robert Miell is scheduled to begin Tuesday (8/17) in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids.

The sentencing hearing is expected to take two or three days.

Miell, once Linn County's largest landlord, pleaded guilty to 18 counts of mail fraud and two counts of perjury and, in January 2009, was convicted by a jury of two counts of tax fraud. The charges stemmed from fraudulent reports to American Family Insurance of more than $336,000 in storm damage at 145 properties.

At one time, Miell, 55, and his attorneys planned to call about 140 witnesses for the sentencing hearing. After prosecutors objected, saying many of those listed were irrelevant to the sentencing, a federal magistrate ordered Miell's attorneys to trim the list.

Miell in May also attempted to withdraw his guilty pleas to the mail fraud and perjury counts, but a federal judge rejected that motion.