Former Hamilton Mayor John Bencivengo has filed an appeal by himself of his conviction and sentence on five federal corruption charges, according to court documents.

The appeal, filed last week, claims Bencivengo is financially indigent and unable to pay for a lawyer or the $400 appeal filing fee. He’s asking to be assigned an attorney under the Criminal Justice Act to represent him.

Earlier this month, District Judge Anne Thompson sentenced him to 38 months in prison with two years of supervised release, a $3,000 fine and $7,400 forfeiture.

A jury convicted Bencivengo in November of extortion under color of official right, attempted extortion under color of official right, two violations of the travel act and one charge of money laundering. He resigned shortly thereafter, and Council Vice President Kelly Yaede was selected to step into the office until a special election this fall.

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