A U.S. judge told former media mogul Conrad Black he could face as much as roughly eight years in prison for obstructing justice and defrauding shareholders of one-time newspaper publishing giant Hollinger International Inc.

Judge Amy St. Eve of the U.S. District Court said 78 to 97 months - or 6.5 years to roughly eight years - was the range of prison time he faced under guidelines when sentence is imposed later today. His sentencing hearing is ongoing in federal court.

She told the 63-year-old Black that he has not "accepted" his guilt, that he abused the trust of shareholders and engaged in sophisticated schemes that required more than minimal planning.

Black, wearing a blue suit, sat stone-faced leaning back with his hands folded and his thumbs pressed together as she spoke.

He had protested his innocence throughout, claiming he was the victim of "corporate governance zealots," and promised to appeal the jury verdict that was reached in July.

The Canadian-born member of Britain's House of Lords was found guilty of one count of obstructing justice and three counts of fraud.