Sentence is appealed

OFF THE WIRE

COMPILED FROM REPORTS BY TRESA BALDAS, CHRISTINA HALL, TAMMY STABLES BATTAGLIA, ERIC D. LAWRENCE, KATHLEEN GRAY AND LORI HIGGINS

A former leader of the Detroit Highwaymen Motorcycle club is appealing his 37-year prison sentence, which was handed down Monday in U.S. District Court in Detroit, according to his lawyer.

Aref (Scarface) Nagi, a former vice president of the club who was convicted of several crimes, "is a person who is capable of being salvaged," said his lawyer, James Thomas, who is planning an appeal.

Nagi was sentenced Monday for helping run what the government had claimed was a violent biker gang in southwest Detroit that for years engaged in widespread criminal activity, including armed robbery, attempted murder and drug trafficking.

Nagi was the first key figure in the club to face sentencing after being convicted last year of conspiracy to violate federal racketeering laws, conspiracy to commit murder, and controlled substance, stolen property and firearm violations.

Throughout the case, and after the trial, Thomas challenged the government's wiretaps, alleging they were improperly authorized.
Read more: Sentence is appealed
freep.com
Detroit Free Press http://www.freep.com/article/20110125/NEWS05/101250365/Sentence-is-appealed#ixzz1C75zIeNX