A federal judge will consider stiffening the sentence of Islamic charity leader Enaam Arnaout for the harm caused by the charity’s diversion of donations to military operations.
In an order issued last month, U.S. District Judge Suzanne Conlon asked both sides to be prepared to argue the point at Arnaout’s sentencing Aug. 18.
If Conlon finds that federal sentencing guidelines already take the harm into account, Arnaout would face a maximum of 10 years in prison. If not, he would face up to 12 1/2 years.
Arnaout, head of the Benevolence International Foundation in Palos Hills, pleaded guilty in February to racketeering conspiracy for funneling relief money to Islamic fighters in Bosnia and Chechnya.
Conlon previously rejected a government request to boost Arnaout’s sentence because of alleged support for terrorism, noting he was not convicted of a terrorism offense.
