Alan B. Fabian - a wealthy entrepreneur, religious philanthropist and well-connected political fundraiser - was sentenced yesterday to nine years in federal prison for running multiple schemes that defrauded companies, creditors and a fellow church member who attended Bible study in his home of an estimated $40 million.
Advisory guidelines called for a 10- to 12-year sentence. But U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake gave Fabian, who lives in Cockeysville, credit for some of the good deeds he has done over the years, such as donating time and money - even if it might not have been his to give, she said. "He could have been a complete con man," Blake said, chalking up Fabian's "consistent, repeated, sophisticated pattern of fraud" to "moral blindness." The good in his life "was significantly outweighed by the many years - at least six - of grossly illegal and deceptive conduct," she said.
He is due to report to prison after Christmas. The restitution Fabian will have to pay and the forfeiture of his assets have yet to be determined. Bankruptcy cases involving Fabian's companies are also pending.
Fabian addressed the court shortly before the judge ruled, breaking down when he mentioned his wife and children. Behind him, dozens of his friends, family and former employees filled the small courtroom, lining the walls and sitting on the floor. His wife, parents and 15-year-old daughter sat in the front row, clinging to one another.
"I stand before you stripped and bare," the 44-year-old father of three said. "From the depths of my soul, I'm so sorry for the pain, the anguish, the loss and the damage that I've caused."
He quoted Aristotle and the Bible, imploring the judge to recognize him as the charitable person he sees himself to be. He told prosecutors that he has prayed for them and their families, and he outlined plans to help others through technology developments and a new Baltimore company he has created, called 4th Sector Ventures LLC.
"To this day, I cannot stop thinking of ways to help people, I can't turn it off," he said. "This is what I am; this is what I do."
Though Fabian was indicted on 26 counts, he pleaded guilty in May to two: mail and tax fraud. He signed a statement of facts that laid out his schemes, which the government said were furthered by his outward appearance of being an ethical businessman, Christian and political player. He served as finance committee chairman for Michael S. Steele's 2006 U.S. Senate bid and as one of 67 finance chairmen for Mitt Romney's presidential bid.
