Rowland appeals prison sentence and campaign fraud conviction

Former Connecticut Gov. John Rowland arrives with his wife Patty Rowland, left, at federal court in New Haven, Wednesday, March 18, 2015, in New Haven, Conn. A federal court jury in New Haven convicted Rowland in September of federal charges that he conspired to hide payment for work on two congressional campaigns. His sentencing on Wednesday will come 10 years to the day that he was sentenced to a year and a day in prison for accepting illegal gifts while in office, including trips and improvements to his lakeside cottage. Photo: Jessica Hill, AP Photo/Jessica Hill

Former Connecticut Gov. John Rowland arrives with his wife Patty Rowland, left, at federal court in New Haven, Wednesday, March 18, 2015, in New Haven, Conn. A federal court jury in New Haven convicted Rowland in September of federal charges that he conspired to hide payment for work on two congressional campaigns. His sentencing on Wednesday will come 10 years to the day that he was sentenced to a year and a day in prison for accepting illegal gifts while in office, including trips and improvements to his lakeside cottage. Photo: Jessica Hill, AP Photo/Jessica Hill

Former Gov. John G. Rowland, staring at a second prison stint of 30 months for campaign fraud, has embarked on his appeal of his latest conviction.

A lawyer for the meteoric Republican, who resigned from office in 2004 and served 10 months in prison for accepting bribes from state contractors, quietly filed a notice of appeal Monday with the Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit in New York City.

It’s the first step in what is expected to be a protracted process for Rowland, who was sentenced March 18 by federal court Judge Janet Bond Arterton for his his role as a shadow operative on the failed 2012 congressional campaign of Republican Lisa Wilson-Foley.

Free for now, Rowland, 57, is being represented by New York City-based white collar criminal defense lawyer Andrew Fish, who declined to comment Wednesday when reached by Hearst Connecticut Media.

A former assistant U.S. attorney who specialized in securities and commodities fraud cases, Fish helped prosecute hedge fund tycoon and Greenwich resident Raj Rajaratnam of Galleon Group for insider trading.

Rowland, who was ordered to pay a $35,000 fine and serve three years of probation as part of his sentence, had until April 1 to file his notice of appeal with the court. The two-page document is a precursor to the formal appeal and does not make arguments why Rowland’s September 2014 conviction for campaign fraud, conspiracy and obstruction of justice should be overturned.

Justice Department officials were not immediately available for comment Wednesday.

The youngest governor in Connecticut history who was elected to three terms, Rowland was found guilty of trying to hide his role as a political consultant to Wilson-Foley, who was sentenced last week to five months in federal prison.

Through a nursing home business owned by Wilson-Foley’s husband, Brian Foley, the couple funneled $35,000 in payments to Rowland. They did not want to be tainted by having Rowland on the campaign payroll, but admitted that the disgraced politician still had influence in the 5th Congressional District and Rowland’s home city of Waterbury. The district stretches from Danbury to the Farmington Valley and includes Litchfield County, Meriden and New Britain.

Prosecutors say Rowland pitched a similar sham to GOP congressional candidate Mark Greenberg in 2010, but was rebuffed by the Litchfield businessman.

Rowland must serve a minimum of 85 percent of his sentence, 25.5 months, under federal guidelines. His surrender date is June 16.

The basis of Rowland’s appeal is expected to be that prosecutors suppressed key evidence on the contract between Rowland and Wilson-Foley, which Rowland’s lawyers have said was for legitimate work at the Apple Rehab nursing home chain.

Neil Vigdor