The Supreme Court has made a decision regarding the appeal of Hunter Biden’s former business partner, Devon Archer, in his criminal conviction for defrauding a Native American tribe.
The high court rejected Archer’s appeal on Monday, thus upholding his conviction for his alleged role in the fraudulent issuance of $60 million in tribal bonds.
Archer, who served on the board of Ukrainian energy company Burisma alongside Hunter Biden, had previously lost an appeal before the Supreme Court. In 2018, a federal judge sentenced him to prison after he was found guilty by a jury of defrauding the tribe. However, in 2018, U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams overturned Archer’s conviction, expressing doubt about his guilt.
Despite this setback, Archer’s conviction was reinstated by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals just a month before the 2020 presidential election. This prompted Archer to receive a one-year and one-day prison sentence in February 2022. Archer’s lawyer, Matthew Schwartz, has maintained his client’s innocence and has vowed to file a series of appeals to challenge the conviction, thus delaying Archer’s prison sentence.
In a statement, Schwartz expressed disappointment with the court’s decision and reiterated Archer’s intention to appeal the ruling. The lawyer noted that Judge Abrams had previously expressed doubts about Archer’s guilt and that she had reiterated her belief in his innocence during the sentencing hearing. Schwartz also added that it was “unfortunate” that the judge felt constrained in her ability to act on her own assessment of the evidence.
The case against Archer revolves around his alleged involvement in defrauding a Native American tribal entity and various investment advisory clients. The Department of Justice accused Archer of using fraudulent and deceptive means to issue bonds for the tribal entity and then selling them for personal gain. However, it should be noted that Hunter Biden was not involved in the scheme.
In her previous ruling overturning Archer’s conviction, Judge Abrams stated that there was not enough evidence to prove that Archer knew the bond issue was fraudulent or that he personally benefited from it.
However, during the sentencing hearing, the judge had a change of heart, stating that the alleged crime was too serious to warrant no prison time for Archer. She also noted that there was no dispute about the harm caused by his actions.
Archer’s lawyer, Matthew Schwartz, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. However, back in February 2022, he stated that Archer intended to appeal the sentence. It remains to be seen how the latest development in this case will impact Archer’s legal strategies and the overall outcome of his case.
This decision from the Supreme Court brings an end to the legal battle that has been ongoing since Archer’s conviction in 2018. The case has received significant attention due to Archer’s connection to Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden.
However, it’s worth noting that Hunter Biden was not involved in the alleged fraudulent activities and has not faced any legal charges related to this case. With this latest development, Archer’s fate now rests in the hands of the appeals court as he continues to maintain his innocence and seek justice.