CONCORD, New Hampshire — Federal prosecutors have asked to delay the sentencing for a New Hampshire woman convicted of lying to obtain U.S. citizenship by denying her role in the 1994 Rwanda genocide. The Boston-based lawyers have been heavily involved in the response to last month's Boston Marathon bombings.
Beatrice Munyenyezi was convicted in federal court in Concord in February. She faces up to 10 years in prison and deportation. Her sentencing was scheduled for June 3.
The prosecutors are members of the Antiterrorism and National Security Unit of the Boston U.S. Attorney's office.
The Concord Monitor reports (http://bit.ly/QiOl1) Munyenyezi's lawyers will likely ask that she be released from jail due to the time she's already served. They say she's served four times longer than the maximum period allowed under sentencing guidelines.
"We're very sympathetic to the resources the marathon bombings is taking," defense attorney Mark Howard said. "But we have a client's interests to protect. And I don't think anyone would want to sit in jail and wait just because the government is busy."
Munyenyezi's conviction came nearly a year after a mistrial was declared; the original jury was unable to reach a verdict.
Her lawyers have filed a motion asking the judge to acquit Munyenyezi, arguing the evidence was insufficient; prosecutors have not responded to it yet.
Information from: Concord Monitor, http://www.cmonitor.com
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