For Hack of Exxon Foes Aviram Azari Gets 80 Months With His Israeli Army Time Cited
more courtroom detail and analysis below the fold / paywall (support) here
By Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon
SDNY COURTHOUSE, Nov 16 – Charged with hacking opponents of ExxonMobil, Aviran Arazi was arrested at New York's JFK Airport on September 29, 2019 at 5:30 am.
Inner City Press went in person to cover U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge John G. Koeltl's later change of plea proceeding in the case - Azari was there to plead guilty.
On October 17, the sentencing was delayed: "as to Aviram Azari Adjourned to Thursday, November 16, 2023.
For the November 16 sentencing, Azari's Israel-based counsel Joseph Asch wrote in to ask to speak virtually.
On November 16, 2023, Azari after citing his Israeli Army service and the war there now, was sentenced to 80 months - 48 of them already served. Inner City Press live tweeted, thread:
Israeli counsel who cited Hamas *is* present by telephone. Someone here in the courtroom is breathing heavily into a mic.
Judge: I am signing the forfeiture order for $4.8 million. Guideline sentence is 94 to 111 months. Azari's counsel: There is possible exposure to war, and his experience in the Israeli military- Probation did not consider it.
Now Aviram Azari's Israeli counsel Asch speaking by phone: Israel is at war, in trauma...
Azari: Dear Americans, about a month ago the state of Israrl suffered the worst offense in our 75 years of independence, by Hamas
Victim 1: My losses have been huge. I am thankful I am not like Aviram.
Victim 2: I am a climate scientist. I documented ExxonMobil's disinformation. I was targeted by his spearfishing. It was espionage, it had a chilling effect
Victim 2: We have a right to know who funded Mr Azari. Victim 3: I head the Rockefeller Family Fund. I was targeted. My email was leaked to the WSJ and Washington Free Beacon. Exxon used our hacked email until recently
Judge: The defendant's hacking tainted organizations. But there are mitigating factors: gastrointestinal and COVID time. He should receive credit for his service in the Israeli army, without regard for the current situation. He wants 60 months. I impose 80 months
Avriram Azari: You don't know everything. There will come a day.
more courtroom detail and analysis below the fold / paywall (support) here
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