Judge postpones sentencing for former Delco pub owner
Published: Friday, October 9, 2009

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By MARLENE DiGIACOMO
and PAUL LUCE
mdigiacomo@delcotimes.com
pluce@delcotimes.com

PHILADELPHIA — Sentencing for Sean O’Neill Sr. has been postponed until Oct. 21 pending legal documents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, even though a Catholic bishop, a retired Upper Darby cop and O’Neill’s own sister attested to his good character during Thursday’s hearing.

O’Neill, 49, of Willistown, the former owner of Maggie O’Neill’s bar in Upper Darby who also owns other properties in Philadelphia and surrounding counties, pleaded guilty in April and, as part of the plea, was to make restitution.

Federal prosecutors accused him of not abiding by an agreement to return more than $300,000 as part of restitution, arising from guilty pleas to immigration, tax evasion and weapons offenses.

The lanky O’Neill, who stood during some of the proceedings even while on the stand because of back surgery, was expected to be formally sentenced Thursday in accordance with the April agreement.

However, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nancy Winter and Alex Nguyen told U.S. District Court Judge William Yohn that O’Neill has not taken responsibility for his crimes, because he hasn’t “paid a nickelâ€