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Man Convicted Of Impersonating Lawyer Files Appeal

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A Minnesota man convicted in North Dakota for impersonating a lawyer has filed an appeal in federal court.

A Bismarck jury found Howard O. Kieffer guilty in 2010 on charges of mail fraud and false statements. Authorities said he lied on his application to practice law in federal court and worked on federal cases in at least 10 states.

Kieffer was sentenced to four years and three months in prison and ordered to repay $152,750 to clients.

The Duluth, Minn., man claims in an appeal filed last week that his lawyers did a poor job of representing him. He's asking for a new trial or sentencing hearing.

A three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected an appeal by Kieffer last year.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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