5 who protested inside Supreme Court plead guilty
Civil Litigation News
Five protesters have pleaded guilty to causing disruptions in the U.S. Supreme Court.
Online court records show the pleas were entered Thursday in federal court in Washington. Sentencing is set for July 24.
The group had argued a law under which they were prosecuted was unconstitutionally vague for prohibiting "loud" language, or making a "harangue" or "oration."
A federal judge partially agreed in 2015, ruling that the words "harangue" and "oration" were too vague, while the word "loud" was clear. But earlier this year, an appeals court upheld the entire law, saying its intent was clear.
The demonstrators were seated in the courtroom on April 1, 2015. After the session began, they rose one-by-one to protest the court's campaign-finance rulings. They were all arrested.
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Thai National Sentenced, Faces Deportation for Operating Immigration Fraud Scheme
Nimon Naphaeng, 36, a native and citizen of Thailand, who resided in Wakefield, R.I., was sentenced Monday to 27 months in federal prison for running an immigration fraud scheme that defrauded more than 320 individuals, most of them immigrants, of at least $400,000, and perhaps more than $518,000.
The scheme included the unauthorized filing of false asylum applications on behalf of individuals who did not request, nor authorize, the applications.
“U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services does not tolerate immigration fraud of any kind,” said Susan Raufer, director of the USCIS Newark Asylum Office. “We are proud of our role in uncovering this fraud scheme and bringing the perpetrator to justice.”
At sentencing, U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith ordered a provisional amount of restitution of $400,000. The final amount of restitution will be determined subject to additional victims being identified and additional court filings over the next 90 days. According to court documents already filed by the government, restitution in this matter may exceed $518,300. During the investigation, the government seized $285,789.31 from Naphaeng. The forfeited funds will be applied toward restitution for victims of Naphaeng’s crimes.