Rockford man pleads guilty in mall terror plot
A 23-year-old Rockford man charged a year ago in an attempted terror plot pleaded guilty today to attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction at a local mall.
Derrick Shareef, wearing a beard and a skullcap, said he understood he could face 30 years to life in prison but told U.S. District Judge David Coar that he wanted to plead guilty anyway.
In exchange for his guilty plea, Shareef made no deal with the government on the length of his sentence. His attorney declined to comment.
Assistant U.S. Atty. Sergio Acosta said Shareef attempted to buy hand grenades from an undercover agent with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Shareef’s attempt to set off grenades at the CherryVale Mall near Rockford during the 2006 Christmas holidays never came close to fruition because he was dealing with a federal informant all along......
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-mallplot_webnov29,1,5245466.story?track=rss&ctrack=1&cset=true
Back in time:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1751447/posts?page=27#27
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1751447/posts
CODEWORD for bin Laden: “under the black leaves”
Hearing focuses on ex-sailor’s calls
NEW HAVEN, Conn.—Federal prosecutors on Wednesday played phone calls from a former Navy sailor accused of supporting terrorism by disclosing the location of ships, but the ex-sailor says a recent ruling against the Patriot Act made the calls illegal to intercept.
The phone calls were played in a court hearing to decide whether to admit the evidence in the case against Hassan Abu-Jihaad. Lawyers for Abu-Jihaad have argued that the calls and other evidence, such as e-mail searches, should be thrown out after a judge’s ruling in September that struck down portions of the Patriot Act.
In one phone call between the sailor and some friends, Abu-Jihaad is heard making what prosecutors said is a coded reference to Osama bin Laden, using the phrase “under the black leaves.” .....
http://www.elpasotimes.com/nationworld/ci_7580998