New NY sentencing for Armenian in missile scam

NEW YORK – A federal appeals court in New York has ordered a new sentencing for an Armenian immigrant sent to prison for 22 years for plotting to sell anti-aircraft missiles and other military weapons to an FBI informant.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Tuesday that a judge incorrectly calculated the factors used to determine the seriousness of the crime carried out by Artur Solomonyan (ART-er SAW-oh-mohn-yihn).

Otherwise, the appeals court upheld the conviction and sentencing of Solomonyan and five others. They were sentenced in 2009 on arms trafficking and conspiracy charges. The only weapons actually delivered were a dozen firearms, including a machine gun.

A lawyer for Solomonyan did not immediately return a phone message for comment.