Former congressman T.J. Cox appears in federal court as felony fraud trial looms

In 2022, Cox was indicted connected 28 full felony charges.

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Former Valley congressman T.J. Cox appeared successful national tribunal successful downtown Fresno Wednesday afternoon. He was expected to alteration his plea, but walked retired with a proceedings day for now.

In 2022, Cox was indicted connected 28 full felony charges: 15 counts of ligament fraud, 11 counts of wealth laundering, 1 number of fiscal instauration fraud connected a mortgage, and 1 number of making amerciable contributions to his legislature run successful 2017.

"Our anticipation is that we volition beryllium capable to negociate a just solution successful this case, we conscionable request much time," said Mark Coleman, defence lawyer for Cox.

The justice acceptable a presumption proceeding for December 11 but Coleman said helium hopes to onslaught a woody for his lawsuit earlier then.

"Mr. Cox feels the value of this. Mr. Cox has done bully for this community, his territory and state. The specter of this, the allegations are weighing dense connected his family," said Coleman.

So far, Cox has pleaded not blameworthy to the charges.

"Well, the contented successful a benignant of lawsuit similar this comes down to what is the loss, however overmuch wealth was involved, and what was the intended nonaccomplishment to the victims successful this case," said ABC30 ineligible expert Tony Capozzi.

Cappozi said if convicted, Cox is astir apt lone looking astatine serving 2 to 5 years, but a plea statement does look to beryllium connected the horizon.

"They should beryllium preparing for proceedings successful December. Putting their witnesses unneurotic to amusement that determination was nary fraud successful this peculiar case. In the meantime they'll beryllium moving with the Government to effort to resoluteness however this lawsuit tin beryllium enactment to an end," said Capozzi.