Asking for Shorter Sentence : Moriarty Mulls Plans for Real Estate Career

Convicted political corrupter W. Patrick Moriarty, hopeful that a federal judge will cut his seven-year prison term in half at a hearing today, said Sunday he plans to resume a career in real estate development when ultimately released from federal custody.

Moriarty, former president of Pyrotronics Inc., the largest fireworks firm in the nation, denied that he has any plans to go back into the fireworks business, where his dealings with California politicians touched off the corruption probe that led to his arrest and conviction.

“I have had no discussions with any officials of Pyrotronics about a return to the fireworks business or to that company,” Moriarty said in a statement released by his attorney, Jan Lawrence Handzlik. “I have no plans to reenter the fireworks business.”

Handzlik has asked U.S. District Judge William Rea to cut Moriarty’s sentence to 36 months and credit him with nine months already served in federal custody. He has also asked the judge to allow Moriarty to serve the remaining 27 months of that proposed sentence in a Garden Grove halfway house.

“There are two main factors why we are asking that Mr. Moriarty not be returned to federal prison,” Handzlik said Sunday. “One is that he is more accessible to federal officials at the halfway house as long as the investigation is continuing. The second is that he is safer there from other inmates who might want to harass or retaliate against him for his cooperation with the government.”

Federal prosecutors have also requested a sentence reduction for Moriarty because of his cooperation in the public corruption inquiry. They are proposing a formula that would permit Moriarty’s release after 21 more months in custody. Under that plan, however, most of the sentence would be served at Lompoc Federal Prison.

Report Denied

Speaking Sunday of his plans, Moriarty denied a report in The Times last week quoting associates, speaking anonymously, who said that Moriarty has met with Pyrotronics officials at the halfway house and discussed a possible return to the fireworks business.

Moriarty said he is barred from doing so by an agreement with Anaheim-based Pyrotronics, which is now in bankruptcy proceedings. He said he is pointing toward a career in real estate.

Two officials of Pyrotronics, the maker of Red Devil Fireworks, supported Moriarty’s position.

“It’s just not true,” said Marshall Riconoschiuto, a lifelong Moriarty friend who is now chairman of the board of Pyrotronics. “It’s been made clear to Pat that he’s not coming back. I talked to all six board members and none of them have had any talks with him about a return.”

Ed Widtfeldt, vice president of Pyrotronics, said:

“There is no ploy, plot or stratagem for Pat to ever play a role in Pyrotronics and he is barred from working for any other fireworks company for the next seven years by an agreement that he will not work for any competing firm.”