OFF THE WIRE
By Mitch Hotts
Daily Tribune Staff Writer
Sterling restaurateur convicted on conspiracy, drugs, firearms charges.
A Sterling Heights restaurateur and reputed motorcycle gang leader was sentenced Monday to serve 37 years in prison after he was found guilty on a host of conspiracy, drugs and firearm charges.
Aref “Scarface” Nagi will get credit for the 39 months of incarceration he has already served while awaiting trial in U.S. District Court before Judge Nancy G. Edmunds.
Nagi was a former leader of the Detroit Highwaymen Motorcycle Club and the owner of three restaurants in Sterling Heights. His sentence was applauded by U.S. Attorney Barbara L. McQuade and Andrew G. Arena, the FBI special agent in charge of the Detroit office.
“Dismantling violent gangs is a continuing priority for the FBI,” Arena said in a statement, as he credited the joint efforts of a number of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies with proving the case.
McQuade added: “Violent crime is a top priority of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and we will use all of the tools available to us to attack violent crime organizations like this one to protect our community.”
Nagi, 46, was represented by Detroit-based attorney James C. Thomas, who could not be reached for comment after the sentencing. Thomas is expected to appeal the sentence, which he called “draconian” in court records prior to Monday’s hearing.’
Nagi was found guilty on charges of conspiracy to violate federal racketeering laws and conspiracy to commit murder, along with controlled substances, stolen property and firearm violations.
Jurors in the eight-week trial heard testimony of beatings, witness intimidation efforts, drug dealing and other allegations. The defense challenged several of the wiretaps obtained by federal prosecutors along with the credibility of some of the witnesses.
According to court records, prosecutors were able to prove the violent nature of the club — which is headquartered in southwest Detroit and has numerous chapters in the city and other states — as witnesses testified to criminal activity including armed robbery, attempted murder, use of firearms, and selling large amounts of cocaine, marijuana, and steroids
But Thomas countered by saying some of the crimes spelled out in a 35-count indictment happened when Nagi was not even a member of the club. Some took place while he was in prison, according to the defense attorney’s sentencing memorandum.
Nagi was portrayed by his attorney as coming from a close-knit religious family who was involved in charitable good works and fundraising activities.
“Quite frankly, without conceding his guilt of the charges that were brought against him, it is clear Mr. Nagi lost his moral compass,” Thomas said in court documents.
Thomas also pointed out Nagi was a taxpaying business owner who earned degrees in liberal arts and engineering at Wayne State University. He said Nagi’s businesses have floundered and his financial resources have been depleted during his incarceration.
Nagi is the first of six defendants found guilty in the case to be sentenced. The others face life sentences when they go before the judge in the months to come.
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