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Sentence enhanced for acting on behalf of fake charity

Sentence enhanced for acting on behalf of fake charity

Sentence enhanced for acting on behalf of fake charity

A criminal defendant convicted of aggravated identity theft has lost an attack on a two-level enhancement of his sentence because he pretended to act on behalf of a fake charity. Jonathan Webster pleaded guilty to stealing hundreds of individual identities with false offers of lending a helping hand. He had created websites for fake charities and invited recently unemployed people to apply for financial aid. The Court imposed a 132-month sentence. The sentencing guidelines say the enhancement applies in any case in which the offense involves a misrepresentation that the defendant was acting on behalf of a charitable organization. A commentary notes that the enhancement applies in a case in...

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