CHICAGO – A judge preparing to sentence an Islamic charity leader for defrauding donors said Monday she needs more time to decide if aid that he allegedly sent Usama bin Laden (search)'s terror network warrants a longer term.
Enaam Arnaout (search), 41, is being sentenced for defrauding donors by telling them his Benevolence International Foundation (search) confined itself to providing humanitarian aid. The charity has been largely shut down since federal agents raided its offices in the Chicago suburb of Palos Hills in December 2001.
Arnaout has pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering, admitting that he sent uniforms, boots and other equipment to rebels fighting Russian troops in Chechnya and armed groups fighting in Bosnia.
Prosecutors contend that Arnaout failed to live up to the promise in his plea agreement to help in the terrorism investigation and want him sentenced to a maximum 20 years.
The judge said she would set a sentencing date later after receiving additional briefs from prosecutors and defense lawyers.
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