United States v. David Bentley

EASTERBROOK, Circuit Judge.

David Bentley was convicted of mail and wire fraud for running a boiler room opera tion that sold non-existent precious metals. After we affirmed, United States v. Bentley, 825 F.2d 1104 (7th Cir.1987), he asked the district court to reduce his sentence under Fed.R.Crim.P. 35(a). 1 The motion correctly pointed out that the sentence was illegal, because the district court had imposed terms of twelve years’ imprisonment on some of the counts, while the statutes allow but five. See 18 U.S.C. §§ 1341 and 1343. The district court vacated the illegal sentences and…