Facing parole violations, Mark Bassely Youssef, the man authorities say is responsible for an anti-Muslim film that caused deadly violence in the Middle East upon its release onto the Internet, was sentenced to a year in federal prison, as reported by Yahoo News and others.
Youssef's parole violations, from an unrelated matter, were for his use of false names. Youssef admitted in court that he used one of several fake names at his disposal to obtain a driver's license. He was on probation due to a bank fraud case.
"Innocence of Muslims" sparked a siege of bloody violence when it was released, however Youssef has not been directly connected to releasing the film. The film portrays Mohammad as a religious fraud, pedophile and womanizer.
Steven Seiden, Youssef's attorney, gave a message to reporters from his client, "The one thing he wanted me to tell all of you is President Obama may have gotten Osama bin Laden, but he didn't kill the ideology."
When reporters asked what Youssef may have meant by the statement, Seiden replied, "I didn't ask him, and I don't know."
Youssef admitted his guilt to four of the eight alleged violations. Prosecutors agreed to drop the other four in a plea agreement. U.S. District Court Judge Christina Snyder accepted the plea deal and issued her sentence.
Though no connection was drawn between Youssef's film and his sentencing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Dugdale stated that Youssef put his film crew and cast in danger when he covered up his own identity.
Dugdale argued, "They had no idea he was a recently released felon. Had they known that, they might have had second thoughts."
Some of the people associated with the film, according to Dugdale, had received death threats, and may not be able to obtain film work in the future.
Seiden said that Youssef wrote the script and acted as the "cultural advisor" only.
Youssef was arrested last September. He had been in hiding since the film's release –
with angry Muslims calling for harsh punishment and a Pakistani cabinet minister offering $100,000 to anyone that would murder him.
Prosecutors originally asked for a two-year prison sentence. They accepted the plea deal, however, as Youssef must adhere to a four-year probation and use his true identify.
Seiden wanted Youssef to serve his time under house arrest, for his own safety, but Judge Snyder ordered him to serve his sentence in a Southern California prison.
Youssef used over a dozen false names, and opened approximately 60 different bank accounts during his check fraud scheme.
When he was released from prison Youssef was to stay away from computers and the Internet for five years.
Dugdale commented, "This is a defendant who has engaged in a long pattern of deception. His dishonesty goes back years."
Authorities do not yet know who posted the film online.
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