[Liz]

Last September, when this story broke, televised news reports raised critical questions b/c when he was arrested in the plot to kill Americans and undermine the US economy, Lakhani claimed he was indigent and could not afford a lawyer. But at his bail hearing, reporters wondered why Lakhani turned up with not one, not two, but three high-powered (and high-paid) lawyers, to defend him.

Another suspect, the only American charged in the missile plot, Yehuda Abraham, a wealthy New York gem dealer who owns jewelry stores around the world, was released on $10 million bail, but is required to wear an electronic device to monitor his movements.

Authorities said Abraham and Moinuddeen Ahmed Hameed, a 38-year-old citizen of India who, the government said, arrived in the New York area from Malaysia, were enlisted to help manage the financial arrangements for the arms deal.

Abraham and Hameed were charged with conspiring to operate an unlicensed money-transmitting business, a shady practice conducted in the shadowy enclave of the New York Diamond District.

Illegal money-transfers are said to be the favored MO of terrorists since the subrosa financing is conducted underground out of sight of US banking procedures designed to leave paper trails.

The secretive money-transfer system, authorities say, is also used to evade US taxes and launder funny money.

[endthematrix]

From sea to shining sea...these guys are finally seeing the light of justice. Then send 'em to a dark locked cellar for a long, long time.

[Liz]

Seeing that I had the unmitigated gall to post this info for the benefit of FReepers one and all, I guess now they'll have to kill me.

Gee, I'm so scared (yawn).

[piasa]

"The plot that the government foiled was a conspiracy that the government conceived, planned and executed through its own agents and no one else," Klingeman said.

Oh, I can see how some Joe Sixpack comes along, runs into a terrorist, and then innocently plays middle man between terrorists and the Russians with missile sales. It could happen to anyone. </sarcasm>

[FreedomPoster]

I'm sure that somewhere in there, the evil Patriot Act has been used to abused and infringe this poor businessman's rights. < /sarcasm>

This guy needs to hang.

[observer5]

"was released on $10 million bail"

The american justice system = CORRUPT!!!!!!

If you got money you get away with MURDER!

[MizSterious]

Mmmm, and I wonder how long before the 2nd or 9th Circuit judges decide these murderous scumbags have had some obscure right or other violated? I'm losing faith in our justice system.

[Justin Raimondo]

"The indictment did not mention the two other defendants in the case, Moinuddeen Ahmed Hameed, 38, of Malaysia and Yehuda Abraham, 76, a jeweler from Queens. Both were arrested in August at Abraham's office in Manhattan, where prosecutors said the men conspired to help Lakhani secretly transfer his missile payments to an account overseas.

"Christie said investigators have no proof that either man knew the money was part of a terror-related plot. Both have talked with prosecutors; such conversations sometimes lead to plea bargains.

"'Those discussions are ongoing,' Christie said."

No proof that the two were involved? Yeah. Riiiight. All they did was facilitate and organize the whole thing. If that isn't terrorism, then what is? Why was Yehuda Abraham given bail, when Jose Padilla is sitting in Guantanamo?

[Pagey]

Officials said the missile was the first of more than 50 Lakhani had promised to deliver. The terrorist was actually a cooperating witness for the FBI. The missile, sold for $86,000, was a harmless replica that Lakhani bought from Russian federal agents who posed as weapons manufacturers.

Well, at least we know that whatever Putin says publicly,he is certainly going along GWB's direction

The indictment nearly mirrored a criminal complaint filed after Lakhani's arrest...it also included new details of the 18-month sting by federal agents in Newark, Russia and Great Britain. U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie said Lakhani brazenly suggested to the FBI witness that he buy more missiles and use 10 to 15 of them to simultaneously down jetliners at airports across America.

Surely the Feds have interrogated this guy thoroughly, yes? I certainly hope so.