Donors count as victims to enhance criminal sentence
The Second Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed an 84-month prison sentence for a former New Your state senator who was convicted for misappropriating more than $400,000 in charitable funds to pay his personal expenses. The Senator objected that the sentence was enhanced under federal sentencing guidelines because it involved more than 50 victims. The government argued that the crime involved more than 50 victims because there were more than 50 donors to charities whose funds ultimately wound up being used for his personal benefit. The Senator argued that the rule should be inapplicable because the government did not show that donations were based on an understanding that they would be...
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