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| Terror Defendant Iyman Faris Sentenced to 20 Years |
| 2003-10-28 |
| A terror defendant accused of plotting to cut through the cables that support New York’s Brooklyn Bridge was sentenced to 20 years in prison Tuesday by a judge who refused to let him withdraw his guilty plea. I hate it when that happens. Iyman Faris was sentenced to 15 years for aiding and abetting terrorism, plus five years for conspiracy. According to prosecutors, Faris, 34, traveled to Pakistan and Afghanistan, carrying out low level missions for terrorists. He provided sleeping bags, cellular telephones and cash to members of Al Qaeda and met with Osama bin Laden in 2000 at a terrorist training camp in Afghanistan. He also was accused of providing the terror group with information about possible U.S. targets. Although he is alleged to have investigated the possibility of using a gas cutter to burn through the Brooklyn Bridge’s suspension cables, Faris ultimately recommended through e-mail messages to his contacts against pursuing that option, which he described as "unlikely to succeed." "What are you, stupid? Have you seen the size of this thing?" Authorities said Faris received attack instructions from top terrorist leader Khalid Shaikh Mohammed for what they suggested might have been a second wave planned for New York and Washington to follow the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Faris pleaded guilty in May, but last month asked to withdraw the plea. U.S. District Court Judge Leonie M. Brinkema would not allow him to, saying she accepted the plea based on what Faris said at the time. However, she preserved his right to appeal the withdrawal attempt. Appeal away. Faris was born in Pakistan and became a U.S. citizen in 1999. Tap....nope Since his arrival in the United States in 1994, his primary occupation has been truck driver. Faris, formerly a resident of Columbus, Ohio, also has used the name Mohammad Rauf. Wonder what name he’ll go by in the slammer? |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #4 Name in the slammer: "Ibin Asswad." |
| Posted by: Steve White 2003-10-29 12:37:32 AM |
| #3 So what have we here? Another "mastermind"? My vote for prison name: Veronica. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2003-10-28 5:11:40 PM |
| #2 He prolly saw that he could pull a moussaoui (new verb) by demanding KSM testimony (the probable source of info about him - and knowing we're not about to give away his whereabouts)... same judge, after all. Thx, Judge. Take some Ex Lax between cases? |
| Posted by: .com 2003-10-28 5:10:43 PM |
| #1 Sweet Cheeks maybe |
| Posted by: Cheddarhead 2003-10-28 4:54:15 PM |