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The jury returned the verdict on the 12th day of deliberations, following a five-month trial featuring testimony from a Who's Who of US society including Henry Kissinger, Barbara Walters and socialite Annette de la Renta, wife of fashion legend Oscar de la Renta.
The blueblood scion of one of America's most illustrious families appeared to listen impassively as verdicts finding him guilty on 14 counts of grand larceny, conspiracy and fraud were read to a packed courtroom.
But outside, the emotion was impossible to hide. Tears brimmed in Marshall's eyes as he pushed through a mob of journalists, leaning on a cane and gripping the hand of his wife, Charlene.
"I love my husband," she cried.
Marshall, a decorated Marine Corps veteran of the World War II battle at Iwo Jima, faces between one and 25 years in prison. He remains free on bail until sentencing December 8.
Defense lawyer Frederick Hafetz said he would appeal to try to keep the frail Marshall out of jail.
"I am stunned by the verdict, greatly disappointed, and we will definitely be appealing," he said.
Also found guilty was attorney Francis Morrissey who had been accused of forging the increasingly demented Astor's signature after changing her will to benefit Marshall.
Prosecutor Elizabeth Loewy said during the trial that Marshall and Morrissey "literally pulled Mrs Astor out of the arms of her nurse... and dragged her behind closed doors so she could change her will."
Marshall even forced his mother to live in squalid conditions in her Manhattan apartment while he and Charlene took over her luxurious properties, the prosecution said.
But Hafetz said Astor herself changed her will to give more to her "loving and loyal son," rather than to the New York charities she had already supported lavishly.
Marshall knew his mother suffered from Alzheimer's but believed the condition did not make her incapable of looking after her affairs, according to Hafetz.
Astor was famous for her old-school elegance, luxurious lifestyle and donations amounting to some 200 million dollars to institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the New York Public Library.
Born Roberta Brooke Russell on March 30, 1902, Astor was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1998 for her civic works.
"Money is like manure, it should be spread around," she was quoted as saying.
She inherited her vast wealth from third husband Vincent Astor, whom she married in 1953 and whose great-great-grandfather John Jacob Astor had made a fortune in fur trading and New York real estate. He died five years later, bequeathing his fortune to his widow.
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The blueblood scion of one of America's most illustrious families appeared to listen impassively as verdicts finding him guilty on 14 counts of grand larceny, conspiracy and fraud were read to a packed courtroom.
But outside, the emotion was impossible to hide. Tears brimmed in Marshall's eyes as he pushed through a mob of journalists, leaning on a cane and gripping the hand of his wife, Charlene.
"I love my husband," she cried.
Marshall, a decorated Marine Corps veteran of the World War II battle at Iwo Jima, faces between one and 25 years in prison. He remains free on bail until sentencing December 8.
Defense lawyer Frederick Hafetz said he would appeal to try to keep the frail Marshall out of jail.
"I am stunned by the verdict, greatly disappointed, and we will definitely be appealing," he said.
Also found guilty was attorney Francis Morrissey who had been accused of forging the increasingly demented Astor's signature after changing her will to benefit Marshall.
Prosecutor Elizabeth Loewy said during the trial that Marshall and Morrissey "literally pulled Mrs Astor out of the arms of her nurse... and dragged her behind closed doors so she could change her will."
Marshall even forced his mother to live in squalid conditions in her Manhattan apartment while he and Charlene took over her luxurious properties, the prosecution said.
But Hafetz said Astor herself changed her will to give more to her "loving and loyal son," rather than to the New York charities she had already supported lavishly.
Marshall knew his mother suffered from Alzheimer's but believed the condition did not make her incapable of looking after her affairs, according to Hafetz.
Astor was famous for her old-school elegance, luxurious lifestyle and donations amounting to some 200 million dollars to institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the New York Public Library.
Born Roberta Brooke Russell on March 30, 1902, Astor was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1998 for her civic works.
"Money is like manure, it should be spread around," she was quoted as saying.
She inherited her vast wealth from third husband Vincent Astor, whom she married in 1953 and whose great-great-grandfather John Jacob Astor had made a fortune in fur trading and New York real estate. He died five years later, bequeathing his fortune to his widow.
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