[naviga:h2]Man gets new trial for mortgage fraud[/naviga:h2]

PITTSBURGH — A Pittsburgh-area businessman will get a new trial on mortgage fraud charges because his defense attorney was seen sleeping by the judge, witnesses and federal court jurors who convicted him last year.

U.S. District Judge Donetta Ambrose ruled Monday that James Nassida was denied a fair trial because Stan Levenson dozed during the October trial. Levenson acknowledged sleeping because he was taking cold medicines that made him drowsy.

Levenson moved for a mistrial, but the judge opted to wait for the jury’s verdict first and to let Nassida file an appeal if he was convicted.

After that happened, Nassida’s new attorney, James Brink, filed the appeal. The new trial is scheduled to begin in September.

Nassida is accused of inflating borrowers’ income to get millions in fraudulent loans through his Century III Home Equity firm.

[naviga:h2]Ex-Steelers doctor found guilty[/naviga:h2]

PITTSBURGH — A former Pittsburgh Steelers doctor has been convicted of illegally trafficking in steroids and human growth hormones since shortly after the team cut him from its medical staff a decade ago.

A federal court jury on Tuesday convicted 67-year-old Richard Rydze on 180 counts of illegal distribution of steroids, human growth hormone and narcotics painkillers. Five other counts were removed for a separate trial.

None of the crimes had been linked to his two-decade-long service with the team.