Anne Hathaway's Ex Asks for Three Years in Prison

10/15/2008 at 07:35 AM EDT

Anne Hathaway's ex will definitely do hard time – the question is how much.

Admitted con man Raffaello Follieri – who pleaded guilty last month to wire fraud, money laundering and conspiracy – is hoping to shave off some of his prison sentence, the Associated Press reports.

In papers submitted to a Manhattan federal court Tuesday, his attorney asked that the Italian-born businessman be sentenced to three years in prison, not the four-plus years he agreed to in his plea deal, the wire service reports.

Attorney Flora Edwards says Follieri had good intentions when he started a business to buy property from the Catholic church. But he "became intoxicated with it all" when he began moving in A-list circles.

Follieri, 30, dated Hathaway for four years. They split in June just before his arrest – something which provided comedic fodder for the actress's recent Saturday Night Live stint.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 23.

RELATED ARTICLE:
• Where the trouble began: Follieri bounces a $215K check!
RELATED GALLERY:
• Anne's prince turns out to be a 'conman'