Defendant in missile plot case sentenced

ap on Yahoo ^ | 10/20/05 | AP

[NormsRevenge]

NEWARK, N.J. - A London-based financial manager was sentenced Thursday to 24 months in prison for his role in a plot to smuggle shoulder-fired missiles into the U.S. to aid terrorists.

Manthena Raja, 45, pleaded guilty in September to one count of money laundering. He admitted he facilitated two cash transfers from the U.S. worth $86,500 for British businessman Hemant Lakhani, even though he knew the money was for an illegal arms deal.

Raja, an Indian citizen, had faced a sentence of between 37 and 46 months under federal guidelines, but the government recommended a lesser term because he cooperated in the case against Lakhani.

Lakhani, who was snared in an FBI sting in 2003, was convicted in April of attempting to broker a deal to sell shoulder-launched missiles to a group he thought would use them to shoot down commercial airliners. The missile seller and buyer were actually government agents.

Lakhani was sentenced to 47 years.

In sentencing Raja on Thursday, the judge also ordered him to pay the government restitution of $86,500, the amount of the money transfers.

[endthematrix]

From a previous thread:

Two other suspected accomplices to the plot, including Yehuda Abraham, who is Jewish, face conspiracy charges

A second man, Moinuddeen Ahmed Hameed, was charged with illegally transmitting money to help finance the plot.

No mention of these two in this story...