Convicted Pa. councilman can’t delay sentence

Convicted Pa. councilman can’t delay sentence

ERIE, Pa. (AP) — A northwestern Pennsylvania county councilman has lost a final bid to delay the start of his federal prison sentence for Social Security fraud.

Friday’s denial by the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals means Erie County Councilman Ebert Beeman must report to prison today.

Beeman was sentenced in July to a year and a day in prison for using a fraudulent Social Security number to apply for two credit cards and two jobs since 2007.

Beeman’s prison sentence is just the start of his legal troubles. The IRS is scheduled to auction four of his properties on Wednesday after winning a $2.1 million judgment for back taxes.

The Erie Times-News reports Beeman has refused to resign his seat. The district attorney has petitioned to have him removed.