Anne Hathaway's ex Raffaello Follieri sentenced

Oct 24, 2008, 9:55 GMT

Anne Hathaway pushes away the umbrella to brave the rain at the official screening of US director Jonathan Demme\'s film \'Rachel Getting Married\' during the 52nd Times BFI London Film Festival, at the Vue West End in London, Britain, 20 October 2008. EPA/DANIEL DEME

Anne Hathaway's ex-boyfriend Raffaello Follieri has been sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison.

The Italian businessman - who dated 'The Devil Wears Prada' actress for four years before they split in June - was sentenced at Manhattan federal court in New York yesterday (23.10.08) after pleading guilty to charges of wire fraud, money laundering and conspiracy.

Follieri - who spoke in court through an interpreter - admitted he had "no excuses" for his illegal actions.

The 30-year-old said: "The most important thing I want the court to know is I was not raised with bad values. I started off with good intentions, determined to run an honourable business and make everyone proud of me.

"What I did was wrong and there is no point in making excuses. I will never be able to wash away the shame. I just hope that someday those who have been hurt by my actions will forgive me."

Follieri was arrested in June after he was found to be lying to potential investors, saying he was a member of the Vatican, and then using the money to travel to the Dominican Republic on holiday with Hathaway.

He was also found guilty of using the money to pay his $37,000-a-month rent, medical bills for both him and Hathaway, and his father's orthodontist bills.

Follieri - whose next hearing is scheduled for December 12 - will be imprisoned in either New Jersey's Fort Dix facility or the jail in Otisville, New York, after officials have decided the level of security he needs.

Prior to yesterday's hearing, Follieri had agreed not to appeal any sentence that was shorter than 63 months in prison.

In addition to jail time, he will have to pay a $1,400 special assessment fee to the United States and was also given three years of supervised release.