James Cromitie had dozens of conversations with an informer recorded from October 2008 to May 2009. Cromitie and three other men were arrested in May 2009 on terror charges for having planted bombs outside two Bronx synagogues, plotting to fire missiles at military aircraft.
During several hours of tapes that were played in Federal District Court in Monday, Cromitie's remarks ran the gamut from boasting to complaining to threats. He whined about Jews and discussed "jumping up and killing one of them."
He bragged about acts of violence that never occured, such as "ashcan" bombing a Bronx police station. He expounded about Islam, justifications for brutality and possible targets, including a Brooklyn synagogue and a power plant. But he also talked about peace.
| Way to make Islam seem a trustworthy member of our national religious rainbow, guys. |
Prosecutors say that Mr. Cromitie, the leader, and the other men -- David Williams IV, Onta Williams and Laguerre Payen -- willingly participated in a plot presented to them by the informer, Shahed Hussain. During an 11-month investigation, Hussain, using the name Maqsood, posed as a Pakistani businessman who tried to recruit the men for a non-existent terror plot. Defense lawyers claim that their clients were entrapped by the government.
| Bad guys choosing to act badly when presented with the opportunity. It's hard to find sympathy for that. |
In the recordings that prosecutors played for jurors, Cromitie didn't seem to need much encouragement. He talked about making "a big noise," and said he "agrees" with an imam who talked about the need to "make jihad right here in America."
| Really? Which imam was that? Never mind, I'm sure the various ladies and gentlemen in black suits have him under all sorts of surveillance... and all his little friends. We'll find out one day, no doubt. |
"Somebody need to send one, one great big message, bigger than the World Trade Center," he said. Hussain could be heard cautioning Mr. Cromitie not to do things for the money.
At other times, Hussain's words appeared more inflammatory. He mentioned overseas terrorism attacks of which Cromitie was unaware. Hussain also mentioned that the president's advisers were Jewish.
| He's already an apostate, our president. What matters it that he also has advisers of the accursed race of pig-Jews? |
Hussain testified that Cromitie talked a lot about a so-called security team that he was never able to meet. Cromitie talked about guns he had stolen from his employer, Walmart, but the chain was not selling guns at that time.
| A lying jihadi? Say it ain't so! |
Other recordings seemed more prescient. "Don't be surprised if one day you might see me in handcuffs again, I have zero tolerance for people who disrespect Muslims.", said Cromitie.
In another conversation, Hussain told Cromitie he did not want to be manipulative. "With your intelligence, I know you can manipulate someone," Cromitie said. "But not me, because I'm intelligent. I'm Muslim. I know how far to go. You understand?"
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