Posted on 09/10/2007 1:03:24 PM PDT by SmithL
SACRAMENTO, (AP) -- A California man convicted of attending an al-Qaida camp in Pakistan was sentenced to 24 years in federal prison Monday for supporting terrorists, concluding a case that divided a Central Valley farming community.
U.S. District Court Judge Garland Burrell Jr. imposed the sentence against Hamid Hayat on his 25th birthday, saying he had "attended a terrorist training camp, returned to the United States ready and willing to wage violent jihad when directed to do so."
Hayat faced up to 39 years in prison after his April 2006 conviction on one count of providing material support to terrorists and three counts of lying about it to FBI agents.
But Burrell said it was Hayat's first criminal offense and cited other factors in imposing the lesser sentence. He said the sentence handed down Monday was sufficient to deter similar behavior by others and punish Hayat for his crimes.
Hayat had no visible reaction when the sentence was read, and his family sat quietly in the back row of the courtroom. But surrounded by reporters outside the courthouse afterward, they lashed out at the prosecution.
"We were expecting justice. We did not get justice. My son is innocent," said Hamid Hayat's father, Umer.
His son, a U.S. citizen, was arrested in June 2005 shortly after returning from a two-year trip to Pakistan, where prosecutors said he received terrorist training and plotted against targets in California.
They said he intended to attack hospitals, banks, grocery stores and government buildings, although his lawyer argued that Hayat never attended such a camp.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Nope....that area of California is loaded with them. They own many business’ and farms in the area.
“U.S. District Court Judge Garland Burrell Jr. imposed the sentence against Hamid Hayat on his 25th birthday,....”
Happy Birthday Hamid! LOL!
A added plus to the whole thing. from the article:
“Two Muslim clerics ensnared in the wider probe were deported for immigration violations.”
Yippie!
Umer Hayat—”He later pleaded guilty to lying to a customs agent about why he was bringing $28,000 in cash to Pakistan several years earlier.”
Musta really been HOT in Lodi for the ice cream man to bank 28 Gs............
Swine sticky Microsoft mouse.....
D-Oh!!
Interesting to read what Muslim activists said about this case back in 2005. What is interesting is that the group cautioned local Muslims NOT TO SPEAK with an FBI agent without an attorney — ever. Apparently the “witch hunt” that started this actually caught some witches. Who knew, wlandsodidwe, that you have witches in your midst?
I looked for a CAIR press release, but did not find an archive that fair back.
http://www.amvoice-two.amuslimvoice.org/html/body_the_fbi_witch_hunt.html
wow, I guess you know the tune...
didn’t treason once merit death?
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