Government looks to delay Coon sentencing

BRADENTON — The sentencing for Philip Coon, a former executive of the Bradenton-based Coast Bank, may have to wait until next year.

U.S. Attorney A. Brian Albritton filed a motion Tuesday to reschedule Coon’s sentencing hearing to January. The sentencing hearing is currently scheduled for Nov. 24.

Coon plead guilty to charges of fraud and money laundering for illegally pocketing $1.2 million in a loan skimming scheme. He faces five years of imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 and forfeiture.

An evidentiary hearing, which is required before Coon’s sentencing, is currently scheduled for Nov. 12. But Albritton also made a motion to reschedule that hearing to the week of Dec. 14-18.

The motion comes after counsel for First Bank, which purchased Coast Bank, advised the government on Monday that it needs an additional three weeks to collect and produce subpoenaed records for the evidentiary hearing. In addition, the government expects to call John Miller, who conspired with Coon in the scam, as a witness at the evidentiary hearing and he won’t be available to testify Nov. 12.