UPDATE to a previous incident [not noted on this thread until now]:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2425049/posts
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UPDATE:
May 26, 2010
Note: The following text is a quote:
http://dallas.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel10/dl052610.htm
Man Admits Attempting to Use a Weapon of Mass Destruction to Bomb a Skyscraper in Downtown Dallas
DALLAS—Hosam Maher Husein Smadi pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Barbara M. G. Lynn to a felony offense related to his attempted bombing of a downtown Dallas skyscraper in September 2009, announced U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas.
“Today’s guilty plea underscores the continuing threat we face from lone actors who, although not members of any international terrorist organization, are willing to carry out acts of violence in this country to further the terrorist cause. I applaud the many agents, analysts and prosecutors responsible for this successful investigation and prosecution,” said David Kris, Assistant Attorney General for National Security.
Smadi, 19, pleaded guilty to one count of attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction. He faces a maximum statutory sentence of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. Under the terms of the plea agreement, however, Smadi faces a sentence of 30 years in prison, if the Court accepts the plea. Judge Lynn set a sentencing date of August 20, 2010.
U.S. Attorney Jacks said, “I commend the FBI, the lawyers and support staff in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the Counterterrorism section at the Department of Justice for their excellent work in bringing this case closer to a successful conclusion.”
“The facts disclosed today and Smadi’s plea make it clear his intention was to kill American citizens. I want to commend the work of the FBI’s North Texas Joint Terrorism Task Force investigators and the prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, who worked countless hours to bring this investigation closer to its conclusion and to protect the community in their execution of the FBI’s Counterterrorism strategy to detect, penetrate, and disrupt acts of terrorism in the United States,” said FBI Dallas SAC Robert E. Casey Jr.
According to documents filed, on September 24, 2009, Smadi knowingly took possession of a truck that contained a weapon of mass destruction, specifically a destructive device or bomb. The truck with the bomb inside was a vehicle borne improvised explosive device. Smadi believed that this was an active weapon of mass destruction, and while it was inert when Smadi took possession of it, it was a readily-convertible weapon of mass destruction.
Smadi knowingly drove the truck containing the bomb to Fountain Place, a 60-story public office building located at 1445 Ross Avenue in Dallas, and parked it in the public parking garage under the building. After parking the truck, Smadi activated a timer connected to the device, locked the truck, and walked away. Smadi walked out of the parking garage, crossed the street and got into a car with an undercover law enforcement agent. They drove a safe distance away and prepared to watch the explosion. Smadi, who believed the bomb would explode and cause extensive damage, used a cell phone to remotely activate the device.
The case is being investigated by the FBI in conjunction with members of the FBI-sponsored North Texas Joint Terrorism Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dayle Elieson and Deputy Criminal Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerri Sims are prosecuting.
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/ahmedressam/index?tab=articles
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SNIPPET - Quote:
http://seattle.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel08/pr120308.htm
MILLENNIUM BOMBER AGAIN SENTENCED TO 22 YEARS IN PRISON
AHMED RESSAM, 40, a native of Algeria, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to 22 years in prison for his failed plot to bomb Los Angeles International Airport in 1999. Prosecutors had sought a sentence of life in prison for RESSAM, after he told the court that the information he had provided to the government to shorten his sentence was not true. United States Attorney Jeffrey Sullivan plans to ask the Department of Justice for permission to appeal the sentence as unreasonable for RESSAM’s crime.
RESSAM was arrested December 14, 1999, as he tried to enter the United States at Port Angeles, Washington. RESSAM had the materials for a powerful explosive in the trunk of his rental car. RESSAM was driving off the ferry MV Coho from Victoria, BC when Customs and Border Protection officers grew suspicious about his nervous demeanor.
After an 18 day trial in the spring of 2001, RESSAM was convicted of nine counts: An Act of Terrorism Transcending a National Boundary; Placing an Explosive in Proximity to a Terminal; False Identification Documents; Use of a Fictitious Name for Admission; False Statement; Smuggling; Transportation of Explosives; Possession of an Unregistered Explosive Device; and Carrying an Explosive During the Commission of a Felony.
Facing a possible sentence of sixty-five years to life in prison, in early 2001, RESSAM agreed to provide information to the United States and testify against others. However, RESSAM ceased providing information in 2003, and claimed in court today that he was “mentally incompetent” when he provided the information. RESSAM asked the court to “retract all that he had said and to sentence him to life in prison.”
Prosecutors joined in the request that RESSAM be sentenced to life, noting that two key prosecutions have been dismissed because of his lack of cooperation. First Assistant United States Attorney Mark Bartlett said, “This court has shown fairness and compassion and he has repaid that with contempt. RESSAM manipulated this court to get what he wanted.” Bartlett pointed out that RESSAM was now trying to use his position as a cooperating defendant to help his fellow terrorists.
U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour re-imposed the sentence he had handed down in July 2005. Judge Coughenour claimed RESSAM’s cooperation “proved to be invaluable,” and stated that he was “even more confident today, that this is the right sentence.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington plans to ask for permission to appeal the sentence to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the FBI investigated the case.
The case against RESSAM was prosecuted by the late Assistant United States Attorney F. Jerome Diskin, Assistant United States Attorney Andrew R. Hamilton, and Assistant United States Attorney Steven Gonzalez. Both Mr. Gonzalez and Mr. Hamilton have now left the United States Attorney’s Office. At today’s sentencing hearing the United States was represented by U.S. Attorney Jeffrey C. Sullivan, First Assistant United States Attorney Mark Bartlett, and Appellate Chief Helen Brunner.