Bonnie Sweeten makes bid for bail in federal court

Bonnie Sweeten, the Bucks County woman who authorities say stole more than $700,000 and then fabricated a kidnapping by two black men, was back in court today trying to get released from jail while she awaits trial.

Sweeten asked U.S. District Court Judge William H. Yohn Jr. to overturn a lower court decision on June 30th ordering her held without bail until her trial on multiple fraud charges.

Yohn may issue a decision this afternoon.

At the earlier hearing, U.S. Magistrate Judge Linda Caracappa said Sweeten's involvement of her daughters in two of her criminal schemes, combined with her record of fleeing to Florida when her alleged embezzlements were about to be discovered, argued against letting her free on bail.

Today, defense attorney James McHugh argued that his client had a place to live with a friend, but conceded that she had no money to put up for bail to assure her appearance at trial. Sweeten's parents were in court today.

McHugh said an offer of a job with a heating and air-conditioning company fell through, and blamed federal agents, who, he said, told the firm their business could suffer if clients learned Sweeten was an employee.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise Wolf said, "she poses a substantial flight risk given her history of deceit and the gravity of the offenses ... as well as the substantial jail time she faces" if convicted.

Sweeten could face more than 10 years in prison.

Wolf argued that Sweeten had swindled or cheated virtually her entire family. To aid her schemes she is accused of altering a passport, assuming the identity of a former coworker and producing numerous fraudulent documents.

The mother-of-three faces a trial on charges of wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, money laundering, forgery, and identity theft. The thefts occurred from November 2005 through May 2009, authorities say.

At that time Sweeten worked as a paralegal for a Feasterville law firm. She is accused of pilfering a variety of accounts including money from her employer and from her ex-husband's ailing grandfather.

In addition to the alleged thefts, authorities say Sweeten used the fake identity documents to flee to Florida as law enforcement closed in.

Sweeten became nationally known when she claimed that she and her 9-year-old daughter had been kidnapped by two black men. Her hoax triggered an Amber Alert.

Sweeten was arrested at Walt Disney World, where she had flown with her child using a stolen identity.