Brothers resentenced in check scheme

AKRON (AP) -- Two brothers who owned eight Northeast Ohio convenience stores and allegedly defrauded banks out of at least $3.9 million through a check-kiting scheme have been resentenced to longer prison terms.
Elie Abboud, 53, of Hinckley was sentenced to 10 years in prison Friday. Michel Abboud, 50, of North Randall was sentenced to nine years.
U.S. District Judge John Adams told the men their sentences might not have been as harsh had they cooperated or admitted wrongdoing.
Elie Abboud must also pay for the cost of his prison stay, about $2,000 a month.
The Abbouds were convicted of more than 70 charges each, including bank fraud, conspiracy, money laundering and tax violations. They were sentenced to eight years in prison in 2004.
An appeals court upheld their conviction last year but ordered they be resentenced using revised guidelines.