PITTSBURGH _ "Dance Moms" star Abby Lee Miller, a convicted felon, was allowed to travel to England on business Thursday over the objections of federal prosecutors.
Miller, who pleaded guilty to concealing assets from bankruptcy court and smuggling money into the country, is free pending the outcome of an unusual sentencing procedure in which the first day of the hearing was held Jan. 20 and the conclusion will be Feb. 24.
She had asked permission to fly to London this week, where she is apparently filming a movie, and to travel to Newcastle, England, next Tuesday.
The U.S. Attorney's Office objected on the grounds that defendants who have been convicted and are awaiting sentencing should only be allowed to travel internationally under "extraordinary" circumstances because of the chance that they won't come back.
But Miller, who is from Penn Hills, Pa., but lives in Los Angeles, said she's been traveling throughout her case, before and after she pleaded guilty, because her livelihood depends on it.
U.S. District Judge Joy Flowers Conti granted her request for this trip but said in the future she has to file her travel plans at least two weeks in advance.
Miller faces a possible prison term of 24 to 30 months in federal prison, which is what prosecutors want.
But she and her lawyers are arguing for probation and the judge has so far indicated she is leaning toward the defense because no creditors actually lost money after Miller's fraud was discovered.
