Opinion ID: 2977670
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Yosef Abdelsalam

Text: On April 22, 2005, Abdelsalam entered a guilty plea to the conspiracy count of the stolen property indictment, count 1, pursuant to a written plea agreement. The plea agreement stated, “The parties further agree that the offenses involved receiving stolen property and the Defendant was involved in the business of receiving stolen property, resulting in a two level increase pursuant to § 2B1.1(b)(4).” The factual basis for the plea agreement stated that the offenses involved stolen merchandise and stated that Abdelsalam was a “low-level assistant, and laborer” in the organization 4 United States v. Abdelsalam, 05-4063 who unloaded, sorted, and removed tags from stolen merchandise. The plea agreement further stated, “The parties understand that the conspiracy charge involved 50 or more total victims resulting in a four level increase pursuant to § 2B1.1(b)(2)(B).” The pre-sentence report (“PSR”) for Abdelsalam calculated an offense level of 17 and a criminal history category of I. The PSR began with a base offense level of six and added eight points for a loss of between $70,000 and $120,000, four points for between 50 and 250 victims, and two points because Abdelsalam participated in a business activity involving the transportation of stolen goods and the repackaging of stolen goods. The PSR subtracted three points for acceptance of responsibility. It computed the advisory Guidelines range as 24 to 30 months. The PSR stated, “Based upon the defendant’s role as an employee at the warehouse, the number of consumers his behavior impacted is unknown. As such, agents and the government estimated based upon the amount purchased by the defendant that his behavior impacted between 50 and 250 consumers.” Abdelsalam initially did not object to the PSR but later filed a sentencing memorandum with objections. The district court agreed with the PSR’s Guidelines calculation. At his sentencing hearing, Abdelsalam’s cultural background, family history, and family situation were discussed. Abdelsalam’s counsel recounted his background and upbringing, including that he had been raised in a different culture, that he was a recent immigrant to America, and that he was eighteen at the time he participated in the criminal organization. His counsel argued that imprisonment was unnecessary because of Abdelsalam’s “particular characteristics” and respect for the law. Following counsel’s argument, the district court stated, “The Court understands the age of this young man and the Court however does not believe that he lacks necessarily sophistication with 5 United States v. Abdelsalam, 05-4063 regard to what was occurring. It occurred for a significant period of time.” The district court sentenced Abdelsalam to imprisonment for 24 months, a $100 special assessment, and two years supervised release. Abdelsalam filed a timely notice of appeal.