United States Seventh Circuit

District court's sentence and conviction of defendant for obstruction and criminal contempt arising from the FBI's investigation of Hamas activities is affirmed where: 1) defendant's challenge to the district court's refusal to his definition of the term "corruptly" is rejected as the court's chosen instructions represent a complete and correct statement of law; 2) district court's application of terrorism enhancement under U.S.S.G. section 3A1.4 is affirmed as defendant's intent to obstruct a terrorism investigation into Hamas activities is supported by a preponderance of the evidence; and 3) defendant's claim that his sentence is procedurally unreasonable is rejected as the district court considered the parties' arguments and explained in detail its reasons for choosing the sentence.

Appellate Information

• Argued 04/07/2009
• Decided 10/02/2009
• Published 10/02/2009

Judges

• WOOD, Circuit Judge., Before POSNER, RIPPLE and WOOD, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Seventh Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellees:
  
• Joseph M. Ferguson, Attorney (argued), Office of the United States Attorney, Chicago, IL, for Plaintiff-Appellee., William B. Moffitt, Attorney (argued), Moffitt & Brodnax, Alexandria, VA, for Defendant-Appellant.