Posted on 07/05/2006 5:37:38 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
A US judge has denied bail overnight to six Miami men charged with conspiracy to blow up the Sears Tower in Chicago because he considered them a threat to the community.
"The charges against each and everyone of these defendants are serious charges and involve crimes of violence," said Judge Ted Bandstra.
"The government presents a strong case in support of conspiracy charges," he said, citing videotapes submitted to the court that show one of the defendants discussing with an FBI informant plans to blow up the Sears Tower.
One of the tapes also shows the whole group pledging loyalty to the Al-Qaeda terror network.
The men arrested in Miami on June 22 pleaded not guilty to conspiracy charges, and their lawyers have tried to set them free by arguing that the whole case was fabricated by the government, which inserted an informant into the group who posed as a member of Al-Qaeda.
"This is a case manufactured by the government," said Albert Levin, an attorney for 26-year-old Patrick Abraham. "We're not surprised."
The lawyer said that when prosecutors ask that bail be denied, judges usually go along with the request.
The alleged leader of the group, Narseal Batiste, 32, is charged with being at the heart of the conspiracy because prosecutors allege that he was the man who had asked another person travelling to Yemen to help him establish contact with Al-Qaeda.
The government also alleges that Batiste planned to use the terror network to wage war against the US government.
The person Batiste approached contacted the FBI, which sent an informant to infiltrate the group, according to the prosecution.
The informant made members of the group swear loyalty to Al-Qaeda and suggested that they consider attacking the FBI buildings in five American cities.
Judge Bandstra also said that "the origin of this case comes from defendant Batiste and not from the government."
An FBI agent testified that Batiste gave the informant lists of materials necessary to execute his plan and received money for their purchase.
The purchases included a video camera that was used to case the government buildings.
"They didn't have absolutely any manners, means or opportunity to carry anything," said Gary Clark, an attorney for Rothschild Augustine, 22, another defendant.
"There is really no fear in the community."
However Judge Bandstra pointed out that it was irrelevant whether the suspects were in a position to implement their designs.
The FBI acknowledged that apart from the lists and videos, there were no other materials that could have helped the suspects carry out their plans and said the conspiracy was more hopeful than operational.
But they're such good boys. They're just misunderstood. Hugs, everyone. Hugs!
A good judge
Aw come on! They're just a buncha sad-sacks, and deserve to go be with their families...
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