SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The Boeheims, the bishop of the Catholic diocese and the Onondaga County sheriff were among 220 people to write letters of support for Steven Aiello ahead of his sentencing.

Aiello, the founder and executive of Cor Development, was convicted in two corruption trials earlier this year. Jurors found him guilty of conspiring to bribe a state official, and rig a competitive bidding process. Aiello's business partner Joseph Gerardi and two state officials were also convicted.

Aiello is scheduled to be sentenced in Manhattan next Thursday.

Lawyers this week filed about 600 pages of letters of support for Aiello, mostly from members of the Central New York community. That included:

Jim and Juli Boeheim

Former County Executive Joanie Mahoney

Onondaga County Sheriff Gene Conway

Catholic Diocese of Syracuse Bishop Robert Cunningham

Former Syracuse Mayor Tom Young

Former Syracuse Police Chief and Common Councilor Steven Thompson

Former Onondaga Community College President Debbie Sydow.

Sen. John DeFrancisco

In their letters, Aiello's supporters urged U.S. District Court Judge Valerie Caproni to exercise leniency in sentencing the Syracuse native. They emphasized his generosity to local nonprofits and his dedication to his family.

The Boeheims discussed philanthropy efforts they undertook with Aiello to upgrade and fix several area Boys & Girls Club facilities. Bishop Cunningham and Sheriff Conway wrote about Aiello's other contributions to the community.

The filings included notes from Aiello's FedEx delivery driver and his veterinarian. Dozens of family members and friends wrote to the judge.

Mahoney and Young shared their experiences with Aiello and Cor as the company first got involved with municipal development projects, particularly Syracuse's Inner Harbor.

"Steve was approached because his company had a good track record and Steve was persuaded that participating was the right thing to do," Mahoney wrote.

Most of the letter writers, including the Boeheims who live nearby the Aiellos, urged the judge to consider punishment that did not include prison time.

"A prison sentence for Steven Aiello would prove to be an overall loss for Syracuse," Jim and Juli Boeheim wrote.

Each of the three crimes Aiello has been convicted of carry a 20-year maximum sentence, but federal sentencing guidelines suggest Aiello serve around 5 years in prison.

Prosecutors who handled the trials suggested in court filings that would be overly harsh, especially considering the sentence the judge imposed on Joseph Percoco, the governor's aide with whom Aiello was convicted of conspiring.

Percoco was sentenced to 6 years in prison. Prosecutors wrote that they viewed Aiello as "less culpable" than Percoco.

Still, they urged Judge Caproni to sentence Aiello to a "substantial term of imprisonment."

"... when sentencing Aiello, the Court will send a message to be heard in boardrooms and executive suites everywhere," they wrote.

Friends and business associates hoped their impressions of Aiello would instead be on the judge's mind at the time of sentencing.

"Steve is a good man who made a mistake," wrote DeFrancisco.

Public Affairs Reporter Julie McMahon covers courts, government and other issues affecting taxpayers. She can be reached anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-412-1992