NEW YORK – A federal jury found four men guilty yesterday of placing explosives outside New York synagogues and plotting to shoot down military aircraft.
The four, arrested in an FBI sting operation in May 2009, face the possibility of life in prison following their trial in federal court.
Defence lawyers said their clients were improperly lured into the case by an overzealous paid government informant and said they would likely appeal following a trial that was closely watched as a test for the entrapment defence.
An entrapment defence resulting in acquittal is extremely rare in federal terrorism-related cases. The men were arrested as they planted what they thought were explosives in two cars parked outside synagogues in New York City’s Bronx borough, US prosecutors said.
Defence attorneys said the men, James Cromitie (44), David Williams (29), Onta Williams (34), and Laguerre Payen (29), were not guilty because they were entrapped in a plan devised by the FBI and orchestrated by the informant, Shahed Hussein.
In addition to planting the explosives, the four intended to shoot down military aircraft at an Air National Guard base in Newburgh, New York, with Stinger missiles, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors said Cromitie, accused of recruiting the three others, was motivated by anti-Jewish sentiments, and wanted to participate in holy war. Cromitie and David Williams were found guilty on all eight charges.
The other two of defendants – Onta Williams and Payen – were found not guilty on one of the lesser charges of attempting to kill officers and employees of the US.
Lawyers indicated in court they will file a motion to have the verdict dismissed. Sentencing was set for March 24th. – (Reuters)