Judge denies New Jersey fraudster’s bid to undo prison sentence over undisclosed rent evidence

NEWARK, NJ – A convicted wire fraud defendant’s effort to erase his prison sentence hit a dead end this week after a federal judge ruled that claims of undisclosed rent evidence were not enough to overturn his guilty plea and 27-month term.

David Buckingham, who pleaded guilty in 2022 to wire fraud and failing to pay over taxes, argued in a motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 that the government had withheld evidence suggesting some of his personal expenses were pre-approved by the alleged victim. He claimed this information could have impacted sentencing and undermined the wire fraud charge itself. But U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden ruled Tuesday that Buckingham’s arguments were legally and factually insufficient.

Buckingham was indicted on five counts of wire fraud before striking a