Lawyer convicted in scam to buy Maxim magazine sentenced

NEW YORK --A lawyerconvicted of helping a con man borrow millions of dollars for a failed bid to buy Maxim magazine has been sentenced in New York City to six months in prison.

A Manhattan federal judge sentenced Harvey Newkirk on Thursday. Government sentencing guidelines had called for Newkirk to serve 14 to 17 years. But the judge expressed disdain for the guidelines, saying they didn't consider unique aspects of Newkirk's December conviction.

The 39-year-old Newkirk was arrested last year. He was convicted of wire fraud but was acquitted of conspiracy and identity theft.

His arrest came after Calvin Darden Jr. pleaded guilty to charges he used his prominent father's name to lure lenders into providing backing to buy Maxim, a men's lifestyle magazine featuring photos of scantily clad models.

His father, Calvin Darden Sr., is reportedly a board member at Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. and Target Corp. and a former senior vice president for operations at UPS Inc.

At trial, Darden Jr. testified for the government that Newkirk helped him forge documents that falsely claimed his father would provide collateral. But the defense argued that it was Newkirk who was in the dark about the fraud.

Newkirk says he shouldn't have trusted Darden.

The deal never went through and the magazine was sold to another buyer.