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- Client was charged with Food Stamp Fraud at a grocery store and restaurant he operated. The Government put the loss at approximately $1.5 million. It believed the sentence should be 70-87 months. Result: After a trial which took place over a 2- week span, and involved several thousand pieces of discovery evidence, he was convicted. Facing a possible sentence of more than 70-87 months, a sentencing hearing, which lasted over 6 hours, dealt with arguments about trial testimony and the client’s background. The Judge varied from the “sentencing guidelines” and pronounced a sentence of 20 months and restitution of $693,000, due to William Butler arguing that the “history and characteristics” of the defendant, and the “proof”, presented problems in knowing the exact amount of the loss. He argued for a lesser sentence and restitution. As a result, the Client received a sentence of 20 months, which was 50 months less than the government requested, and restitution of $693,000 which was more than $800,000 less than what was argued by the United States.
