US: No leniency for Ill. man in erectile pump case

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -- Prosecutors in Rhode Island are asking a judge to reject a request for leniency from an Illinois man who admitted shipping unwanted penis enlargers to diabetes patients as part of a Medicare fraud scheme.

In court papers filed Thursday, prosecutors say the 1 1/2 year prison sentence sought by 49-year-old Gary Winner, of Wheeling, wouldn't serve justice. Winner is being sentenced Friday.

The guidelines for determining Winner's punishment recommend a prison term between just under six years and a little more than seven years. Prosecutors are asking the judge to impose a sentence on the low end of that range. They say he could face a maximum of 33 years in prison.

Winner pleaded guilty to four charges stemming from the scheme and agreed to forfeit more than $2.2 million.

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