Petitioner, a former immigration attorney, was found guilty of various crimes for conspiring with clients, interpreters, and his employees to defraud the government by submitting fabricated asylum applications. Petitioner moved to vacate his sentence and the district court denied the motion after allowing discovery and conducting an evidentiary hearing. On appeal, petitioner argued that the district court erred in its rulings about the benefits the government provided to some witnesses before and after trial. The Seventh Circuit affirmed, finding that while information about pre-trial benefits was not properly disclosed it was immaterial and further that petitioner’s rights were not violated because some of the alleged post-trial benefits either were not offered to witnesses or would not have affected the outcome of the trial. (ROVNER and PRYOR, concurring)
Federal 7th Circuit Court
Criminal Court
Sentencing