Man Who Conspired to Defraud Rep. Matt Gaetz’s Dad Loses Appeal

A real estate developer and ex-con who pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud Rep. Matt Gaetz’s father out of millions of dollars lost an appeal challenging his 63-month sentence.

Stephen Alford objected to a 20-level sentencing enhancement, which was based on a $25 million intended loss, on the grounds that the would-be victim didn’t actually lose any money. But even if the district court’s enhancement was an error, it was a harmless one, the US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit said.

Alford claimed that he didn’t intend to cause any monetary harm, and further that the word “loss” ...