By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Dec 21 – Leuris Lanuel Sabala-Mejia was charged with stealing US government funds - COVID relief and tax refund checks - and aggravated identity theft.
On December 21, 2022, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil held a change of plea proceeding. Inner City Press went and covered it.
The US Attorney's Office agreed to drop the aggravated ID theft count, which carries a mandatory consecutive two year sentence; its plea agreement anticipates a guideline sentence of 12 to 18 months, with two criminal history points to be subtracted for acceptance of responsibility.
Judge Vyskocil asked why not a third point, for timeliness. The response was that only applies to sentences of 16 months and up. She thanked the AUSA and defense counsel for their answers.
The defendant described stealing and cashing checks. Judge Vyskocil accepted his guilty plea, and set sentencing for May 1 at noon.
The case is US v. Sabala-Mejia, 21-cr-225 (Vyskocil)
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