Conviction Upheld in NYC for Ex-Dem Fundraiser A federal appeals court in New York City has upheld the conviction and 24-year prison sentence of a former Democratic fundraiser. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday rejected efforts by Norman Hsu (shoo) to reverse his conviction and reduce his sentence. It said a lower court judge acted properly during his trial and in calculating the losses to investors that the sentence was based on. The former fundraiser for Hillary Rodham Clinton and others was sentenced in September 2009 to 24 years and four months. He was convicted of breaking campaign finance laws. The judge said Hsu stole more than $50 million from hundreds of investors in a 10-year Ponzi scheme. His arrest led Clinton to return more than $800,000 to donors linked to him.