S.H. Anthony owner's sentencing delayed a third time at prosecutor's request
GULFPORT -- Sentencing has been delayed a third time for contractor Sean Anthony, who has admitted bribing two Harrison County Utility Authority officials in exchange for business contracts.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ruth Morgan requested the delay to give Anthony more time to "fulfill his obligations" under a plea agreement.
Anthony's most recent sentencing date was Jan. 4, but it is now moved to May 2.
Anthony pleaded guilty in March to a charge of conspiring to bribe former Utility Authority Director Kamran Pahlavan and former Harrison County Supervisor Kim Savant.
Pahlavan says he's innocent and charges against him were dropped after his attorney filed a motion saying Pahlavan was an FBI information in the case and the information he gave authorities could not be used to prosecute him. Prosecutors alleged in court records that Pahlavan lied about vehicles he received from Anthony, which nixed any promise that "truthful statements" would not be used against him.
Pahlavan recorded conversations with Anthony for the FBI between June 2012 and January 2013. FBI agents interviewed Pahlavan in October 2012. The U.S. Attorney's Office said in court papers they decided to prosecute Pahlavan in February 2013 after the FBI first contacted Pahlavan about the investigation.
Pahlavan was accused of accepting two cars, New Orleans Saints tickets, hotel rooms, use of a condominium and other things of value from Anthony in exchange for Pahlavan recommending Anthony's company for contracts.
The alleged conspiracy began in 2006 and continued through November 2011.
Savant, 65, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to accept bribes. U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden sentenced him to five years in prison, the maximum allowed for the crime. As part of his plea, Savant admitted accepting monthly payments of $1,500 from Anthony from January 2011 through January 2013.
U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett is presiding over Anthony's case. Anthony's company, S.H. Anthony Inc., had a $3.5 million operations and maintenance contract with the Utility Authority that ended in January 2013 after the Sun Herald reported he had helped Pahlavan buy a car.
Prosecutors say Anthony's company has also done emergency work for the Utility Authority with Pahlavan's approval.
This story was originally published December 14, 2015 at 4:06 PM with the headline "S.H. Anthony owner's sentencing delayed a third time at prosecutor's request ."