HAMMOND | Despite pleadings from his lawyer, Jewell Harris Sr. does not appear to be getting out of his sentencing hearing Thursday.

Harris wants to delay his hearing because his defense attorney Kevin Milner is still disputing the amount of money that Harris was convicted of receiving through fraud.

Harris was found guilty of double-billing the city of Gary and a private contractor for work on The Steel Yard baseball stadium in 2001, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Bernard Van Wormer has said the total loss amount was more than $1.5 million.

Harris admitted at the outset of his January trial that some double-billing occurred but said the amount was about $90,000 or less.

Harris was convicted of six counts of fraud. Federal sentencing guidelines for such crimes can vary greatly depending the amount of money that was misappropriated.

In motions filed Tuesday, Milner said he hopes to reach an agreed-upon figure with prosecutors so that the attorneys don't have to give arguments about the matter in public during Harris' hearing Thursday.

Van Wormer objected to the delay, and U.S. District Judge James Moody ruled Tuesday that Thursday's 10:30 a.m. hearing will go on as scheduled. Milner has submitted a second request to delay the hearing, which is still pending.

Moody ruled in June that the amount of money Harris derived "directly or indirectly" from the scheme was $1.53 million.