"Aww now you shouldn`t have gone and said that. It`s a felony to threaten the President of the United States, you could go to jail, even if you don`t mean it." -Clint Eastwood from the movie In the line of fire.
Posted on 05/17/2004 11:27:46 PM PDT by ambrose
Man admits threat to Bush
By Jeff Zent
The Forum - 05/18/2004
A Nevada man pleaded guilty in Fargo's federal court Monday to threatening the life of President Bush.
Joshua Aliwishes Banks was three days away from completing a two-year prison sentence at the James River Correctional Center in Jamestown, N.D., when, on Jan. 10, 2003, he became combative with prison guards and threatened to kill President Bush, court records say.
The now-32-year-old inmate became angry after guards conducted a random search of his dorm and confiscated a journal in which he wrote about how to become an effective assassin, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl.
Guards were escorting Banks to a more secure cell when he made threats and complained he was being mistreated because of his Muslim religion, court records say.
"If they want to stereotype Muslims, then I will give them something to stereotype," Banks reportedly told prison employees.
"You are creating a terrorist and someday this year, I will be getting out. You know I am going to kill the president," Banks reportedly said.
The inmate threatened to kill President Bush twice that day, Puhl said.
Banks' attorney, Dennis Fisher of Moorhead, said his client suffers from anger-management problems but poses no threat to President Bush.
Other inmates beat Banks for expressing his religious beliefs, Fisher said.
Banks' jury trial was set to begin Monday, but federal prosecutors and Fisher worked out a plea agreement late Friday, Puhl said.
In exchange for Banks' guilty plea, prosecutors agreed to drop one of two charges of threatening the president.
U.S. marshals took Banks into custody before he was released from the state prison and he has remained jailed since.
In August 2003, a federal magistrate denied Banks' request for pretrial release, ruling he is dangerous and a flight risk.
In April 2002, Banks began serving a two-year prison sentence after pleading guilty in Cass County District Court to having sexual contact with a 16-year-old girl, court records say.
He also was convicted of threatening to kill East Central District judges Norman Backes and Michael McGuire.
East Central District Judge Lawrence Leclerc sentenced Banks to one year in prison for those threats. Leclerc ordered the sentence to run concurrently with Banks' two-year prison stay for corrupting a minor.
Work with a carnival company brought Banks to North Dakota in 2001, Fisher said.
An amusement ride operator, Banks was living in Fargo area motels when he was arrested. He lists Sparks, Nev., as his home.
The federal charge of making threats against the president carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000.
Under federal sentencing guidelines, Banks likely will serve between 15 and 21 months in prison, Puhl said.
He has remained in jail on the federal charges for about nine months and will be credited for the time served.
U.S. District Judge Rodney Webb set Banks' sentencing for July 22.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Jeff Zent at (701) 241-5526
Joshua Aliwishes Banks
Strange name for an Arab.
Thinking he's a convert.
A black Muslim converted in prison.
"Banks' attorney, Dennis Fisher of Moorhead, said his client suffers from anger-management problems... "
Ha! Soooooooo that's his problem.
sounds like we have another candidate for a pair of silk panties, a studded dog collar and piano wire leash.... oh and don't forget the sanitary napkins too... for stuffing his mouth...
"...and confiscated a journal in which he wrote about how to become an effective assassin."
The warden said he was working on a revised version to include "tips on how to stay out of prison", and "how to arrange a presidential visit to your cell block".
Ali wishes? You gotta be kidding me.
Criminals aren't known for intelligence.
Google Results 1 - 10 of about 275,000 for "A Study of Assassination"
Who did he think he was going to sell his book to?
We have a street in a small town south of here that was constructed right after WWI. It is called "Champ Ulysses."
What was the tip-off, the way he misspelled his own middle name?
"Aww now you shouldn`t have gone and said that. It`s a felony to threaten the President of the United States, you could go to jail, even if you don`t mean it." -Clint Eastwood from the movie In the line of fire.
I liked the movie, BTW. Malkovitch was geat as a deranged yet meticulous killer.
What was the tip-off, the way he misspelled his own middle name?
LOL!
Was dat him or his mama?
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