Yusuf A. Hassem told Judge Robert Noonan today that's he's not an evil man.
"Most of those things on my record are misdemeanors," said the 69-year-old con man who's criminal history dates back to 1957.
Noonan wasn't buying it.
"I'm imposing the maximum sentence and I know there is a prosecutor in Albany looking to do the same," Noonan said. "I don't know if you are going to live long enough to see daylight again or not, but society would certainly be safer if you don't."
Hassem, aka Louis L. Reed, was convicted by a jury Feb. 3 of grand larceny, 4th.
The maximum sentence Noonan could impose was two to four years in state prison.
The swindler stole $2,000 from a Batavia woman after meeting her at Tonawanda Valley Federal Credit Union. That day Hassem was dressed in suit that made him look like a possible African visitor and spoke to the woman in a fake Nigerian accent. He said he was new to the country and needed help with a banking transaction. Somehow, he managed to switch packages with her, handing her a pile of paper in a handkerchief, and walking off with her money.
The mother of three was working three jobs at the time, 70 hours a week, and the $2,000 represented her entire savings.
In court today (she asked that I not us her name and I agreed), the woman described how angry she was and how foolish she felt when she realized her money had been stolen.
"I had to rethink the situation and realize I was just being me -- helpful and good-hearted, and I got taken advantage of by a criminal that had sadly made a career out of taking from people," the woman told Noonan.
She said Hassem should be locked away forever and asked Noonan to throw the book at him.
District Attorney Lawrence Friedman pointed out that Hassem has made contradictory statements about the events of that day and most recently told pre-sentence investigators that he didn't steal the victim's money.
"It’s clear this defendant can’t tell the truth," Friedman said. "We can't really protect society from him long enough because eventually he will get out and he will victimize people again. The maximum isn’t long enough, but let’s at least protect society for as long as we can."
Friedman noted that the Buffalo resident's rap sheet is 23 pages long and spans multiple decades, multiple states and multiple aliases.
His defense attorney asked for some a minimum sentence because of health issues and Hassem's age.
When it came time for Hassem to speak, he blamed the victim. He claimed that he flirted with the woman and she flirted back and that they had made a date for later.
"This is really about she couldn't get a dime from me," Hassem said.
When the aging grifter finished his disjointed speech, Noonan laid into him.
"Well, sir, it's hard to imagine that somebody could get to be nearly 70, and to be as intelligent a person as you seem, and then be so detached from reality," Noonan said. "For you to think that this young woman would be attracted to you and that you could get a date with her, while it may have been in your mind that she was flirting back, while you're all dressed up in your funny little African costume, and that you could win her over as a little old man who needed her help, is hard to believe."
Noonan also ordered Hassem to pay restitution of $2,000, which Hassem also tried to dispute saying his family tried to pay restitution previously, but Friedman turned it down.
Noonan shut him off with a terse, "you also could have accepted a plea before this case went to trial for one and a half years. Those times are long gone. This case is over. The matter is adjourned."
At which point, Hassem was asked to sign some papers and he started to speak again, but his deputy escort said, "Do you want to add contempt of court to your charges?"
