Posted on 07/24/2007 4:52:32 PM PDT by Ooh-Ah
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia: In a precedent-setting case, a man was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in prison for lying to authorities about his participation in a terror training camp in Pakistan after prosecutors successfully argued that his lies obstructed a wide-ranging terrorism investigation.
Under normal sentencing guidelines, Sabri Benkahla, 32, would have received at most a three-year term for his convictions earlier this year on charges of lying to a grand jury, obstruction of justice and making a false statement.
But for the first time, prosecutors were able to obtain a stiffer sentence by arguing that Benkahla's lies effectively promoted terrorism.
...
Benkahla's case is one of about a dozen linked to what prosecutors called a "Virginia jihad network" of young U.S. Muslim men who played paintball as a means of training for holy war and who worshipped at the now-defunct Dar al-Arqam mosque in Falls Church. The group's spiritual leader, Ali al-Timimi, is serving a life sentence for soliciting treason by urging followers after the Sept. 11 attacks to go to Afghanistan and take up arms alongside the Taliban.
...
Benkahla, a natural-born U.S. citizen who grew up in Fairfax County, Virginia, told the judge that "I'm shocked at what has happened and feel betrayed" by the rulings that led to such a stiff sentence. He said he had been studying overseas "because I wanted to help bridge the gap between the East and West."
...
Jonathan Turley, a defense lawyer with expertise in national security law, said the government's aggressive pursuit of Benkahla "shows that the Justice Department continues to circumvent jury decisions."
"They have shown that they're willing to manipulate the system at any cost" said Turley, who is representing al-Timimi on appeal. "It's an abuse of the system."
(Excerpt) Read more at iht.com ...
He gets out in 10 years and then what? Do they honestly think he will become a defender of our Democratic Republic?
So he drew the “You’re A Jihadi, Go Directly To Jail” card?
Works for me!
Another Al Qaida trainee got 10 years in Federal prison in a Texas case last week.
They said it was the maximum sentence he could get. Funny how the two border agents who shot a drug smuggler in the butt got 11 years.
The Somali man’s lawyers tried to make the case that he wasn’t a threat to America, that he was working to overthrow a government in Africa.
And if you believe that, I'll sell you that same bridge...
Wasn't "firing squad" an option for this guy.
Good! It's about time we learned to manipulate the system just like they do!
Just make sure he’s in with all the other inmates. Hoping they’ll take care of business....
Great, they put him where he can teach a willing audience.Actually, THAT is quite scary! The prison conversions may be our soft underbelly.
Ha ha ha ha ha! That's the best laugh I had all day!
-you think he’s going to live to walk out?
he will recruit in prison....
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