(Miami) Dec. 10, 2003 - Former University of South Carolina president James Holderman will not be sentenced until December 29th. A Florida jury convicted Holderman of scheming with an undercover officer to get visas under false names and launder drug money.

He was originally scheduled to be sentenced on Wednesday. He has been free on bond since the verdict. He could face up to 20 years in federal prison.

Holderman was found guilty on all four counts: conspiracy to launder money, attempted laundry of money, conspiracy to sell false immigration documents and offering to sell false immigration documents.

The former president, who already had two convictions on his record, had claimed he was lured into crimes he never intended to commit while desperate for money to treat his mental illness. His defense attorney plans to appeal.

In 1996 he was convicted of bankruptcy fraud, which included a money laundering count.

Holderman was president of South Carolina for 13 years until he resigned in 1990 amid scandals over his spending of public money for travel, lavish dinners and expensive gifts. He was convicted of official misconduct while he was USC president. While president at USC he helped arrange visits by Pope John Paul II and President Reagan.

posted 9:01am by Chris Rees