Sentencing for former Seaport Museum president postponed

Today's scheduled sentencing hearing for John S. Carter, the former president of the Independence Seaport Museum, was postponed because Carter is ill, officials said.

Carter, who has had at least two heart attacks, was hospitalized Friday with an undisclosed heart condition, not considered life-threatening.

U.S. District Judge R. Barclay Surrick was expected to meet with lawyers at 4 p.m. at the federal courthouse to discuss Carter's condition and re-scheduling the sentencing.

Carter's attorney, Mark Cedrone, was not immediately available this morning. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Pease declined to comment.

At sentencing, prosecutors are seeking 15 to 19 years in federal prison, calling Carter's crimes extraordinary. Carter's lawyer has said that the government has overreached and that a fair sentence is in the four-to-five-year range.

Carter pleaded guilty to defrauding the waterfront museum of nearly $1.5 million. He also pleaded guilty to trying to illegally convert a $1 million life insurance policy.

In his guilty plea, Carter admitted that he used museum money to build a $210,000 carriage house for his home on Cape Cod, to buy $50,000 worth of electronic equipment, and to buy and renovate three sailboats for $900,000.

Carter, who ran the nonprofit museum for 17 years, lived rent-free in its Society Hill townhouse while also being paid about $350,000 annually.

In court filings last week, Carter said that museum board members also used the museum to enrich themselves and their friends.

Carter charged that board members and wealthy donors were enmeshed in what his lawyer called a "culture of corruption and self-dealing."

They exploited the museum for questionable tax breaks and stuck it with the bill for lucrative no-bid contracts, expensive parties and pricey boats, he charged.

Museum officials denied the allegations and said Carter is lying in a desperate attempt to shift blame for what he did.