Craig Carton Seeks Leniency In $4M Ponzi Scam Sentencing: Reports

Craig Carton, the former WFAN talk radio host and former radio personality on 101.5 FM in New Jersey, is seeking leniency when he is sentenced for his role in a $4 million ticket-reselling Ponzi scam next month, according to reports.

And Carton has some big names in his corner backing that request, the New York Daily News reported, including former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, actor Joe Piscopo and Boomer Esiason, who was Carton's co-host on the "Boomer and Carton" show.

Carton, who is scheduled to be sentenced April 5 in Manhattan federal court, faces a maximum of 45 years in prison on the charges of securities fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy, which he was convicted of in November 2018, the New York Post reported.

Newsday reported a memo from Carton's attorneys said federal sentencing guidelines recommend 70 to 87 months.

Carton's attorneys, Robert Gottlieb and Derrelle Janey, filed the memo in federal court Friday, the reports said, and in said a "control disorder" brought on by repeated instances of childhood rape and other trauma led to an extreme gambling addiction.

"Where as here mental disease and the predicates that lead to it — in this case repeated instances of childhood rape and other childhood traumas — plays a material role in a defendant’s commission of a criminal act, there should be a sentencing adjustment," the memo said, according to the Newsday report.

Carton, who was one of the "Jersey Guys" on NJ 101.5 from 2002 to 2007, was described by Christie as "one of the most generous friends" the former governor and former federal prosecutor had ever known. NJ 101.5 posted Christie's letter of support for Carton on its website.

Christie, who frequently appeared on NJ 101.5 while he was governor from 2010-2017, urged mercy based on his experiences with sentencing as a federal prosecutor, saying he does not believe Carton is a threat to society. "I have always found him to be honest and forthright," Christie wrote.

Esiason, the former New York Jets quarterback, also cited Carton's charitable works. He also said he has not forgiven Carton for being arrested, the Daily News said. Carton, who had worked with Esiason since 2007, was arrested Sept. 6, 2017. He resigned from WFAN a week later. The show paid him $2 million a year and was the No. 1 radio show in the country in all male demographics, Gottlieb wrote, according to the Daily News report.

The memo urged leniency on the basis that the sooner Carton can return to radio the sooner he can repay victims, the Daily News report said.

Newsday said the attorneys' filing included a sealed copy of an unpublished chapter of Carton’s biography “Loudmouth” that describes his child rape experiences. The issue wasn't raised for sympathy, they said: "Mr. Carton is not arguing that either his gambling addiction or the fact that he is a victim of childhood sexual assault is an excuse for his crimes. … Rather, as is appropriate for sentencing purposes, Mr. Carton provides context."

Carton's Chester mansion was on the market for $2 million in December.