Sullivan & Brill, LLP congratulates criminal defense attorney , Steven Brill, on an exceptional result for a 54-year-old customs broker in Long Island, who was charged with Conspiracy to Import/Smuggle Goods into the US. According to the government's 28 count indictment in Brooklyn's Federal District Court, Eastern District of New York, the client was involved in smuggling over 700 million dollars of counterfeit goods into the United States. These goods were mainly imported from China, through New York, and sold across the country, including Chinatown in New York City. 

Based upon the value of the “loss” calculations under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the client faced over 10 years in jail. The firm engaged in over 2 years of investigation and plea negotiations with the government that resulted in a plea bargain in which the Sentencing Guideline's called for a sentence of 33 months in jail. However, at the sentencing hearing, Steven Brill creatively argued that the Court should depart from the sentencing guidelines based on the nature of the crime and the client's long-lasting good behavior and good character. We are proud to say that the Judge granted his request to significantly depart from the guidelines' range and sentenced him to 3 months in a halfway house and 3 months of home detention.