Sentencing postponed for Islamic charity director
From Jeff Flock
CNN
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Enaam Arnaout is seen in an artist's sketch last February before U.S. District Judge Suzanne B. Conlon.
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CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- A judge postponed a scheduled sentencing hearing Monday for an Islamic charity director charged with diverting money to support Muslim fighters in Bosnia and Chechnya.
Enaam Arnaout pleaded guilty to racketeering in February, admitting that he had used some money raised through the Benevolence International Foundation charity to support Islamic rebels in Chechnya and Muslim soldiers in Bosnia. Prosecutors dropped a charge of supporting terrorism in exchange for his guilty plea.
Prosecutors sought a 20-year sentence for Arnaout, a 41-year-old Syrian-born U.S. citizen. Monday's hearing was postponed so a judge could hear additional arguments on whether the government can use evidence related to the dropped charges in sentencing.
No new sentencing date had been set Monday afternoon.
Prosecutors said they would show during sentencing that Arnaout and his organization also supported Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda terrorist network. Arnaout has admitted knowing bin Laden but said he does not support terrorism.
Federal prosecutors said if he cooperates in future investigations the sentence could be considerably lower.
Defense attorneys have said that of the $20 million Benevolence International Foundation raised during a 10-year period, between $300,000 and $400,000 went to Chechen rebels and Bosnian soldiers.
Last November, the U.S. Treasury designated Benevolence International Foundation and two closely linked groups "financiers of terrorism," blocking the organizations' accounts.
