Black must begin prison term in March: judge

Conrad Black has lost his bid to remain out of prison while he appeals his fraud and obstruction-of-justice convictions and must prepare to go to jail by March 3, a U.S. federal judge ordered Thursday.

The former chief executive of Hollinger International in December was sentenced to 6 years in prison for his role in the misappropriation of millions of dollars from the newspaper empire he once headed. He was also fined $125,000 US.

Black's lawyers had requested their client remain free on bail until June 15, which isaround the time his appeal of the conviction is expected to be heard.

In an order issued Thursday, U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve said that though Black is not considered a flight risk or danger to the community, his lawyers had not shown that his grounds for appeal would likely prompt a new trial or reversal in the convictions.

As a result or the order, Black, 63, has until March 3 to report to prison. He is currently free on a $21-million US bond.

His lawyers have asked that he be allowed to serve his sentence at the minimum-security Coleman Federal Correctional Complex in Florida.

Under U.S. rules, Black must serve at least 85 per cent of his sentence.

Black guilty of mail fraud, obstruction

In July, Black was convicted of three counts of mail fraud relating to the diversion of millions of dollars in non-compete payments from the sale of Hollinger newspapers.

Black was also found guilty of one count of obstruction of justice for removing boxes of documents from his Toronto office.

He was acquitted of nine other charges, including racketeering.

Prosecutors had pressed for a sentence of 19 to 24 years. The Montreal-bornBlack faced a maximum possible sentence of 35 years.

His three co-accused John Boultbee, Peter Atkinson and Mark Kipnis were also convicted of three counts of mail fraud each.

Boultbee and Atkinson wereeach sentenced to jail terms of 27 and 24 months respectively. Kipnis, who had one of theconvictions against him thrown out, was given five years' probation.