Arnaout - Terrorism Financier- Resentencing

The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, based in Chicago, ordered the resentencing of 42 year old Syrian born U.S. citizen Enaam Arnaout, the former head of Benevolence International, Inc., a non-profit Islamic charity, accused of defrauding thousands of donors by redirecting their donations to support al Qaeda operations abroad. In a 15-page opinion, Judge William J. Bauer argued that the district court judge erred in failing to consider aggravating factors including the abuse of trust with those donors.^[1] The district court further erred, according to Judge Bauer, in concluding that Mr. Arnaout had personally defrauded more than 50 donors.^[2] Also, according to Judge Bauer, though Mr. Arnaout was not convicted of terrorism, the district court should have considered the apparent nexus with terrorism as an aggravating factor for sentencing.^[3] Taking into account upward and downward departures recommended by Judge Bauer, Mr. Arnaout will likely receive approximately the same amount of time as the 11 years which he now faces.


[1] Mike Robinson, Resentencing Ordered for Islamic Charity Leader, Associated Press, December 2, 2005; United States v. Benevolence International, Inc., et al Case No. 02 CR 414
[2] Id.
[3] Id.