Guilty pleas expected in SoCal terrorism case, prosecutors say

AP via SFGate ^ | 12/14/7 | GILLIAN FLACCUS, Associated Press Writer

[SmithL]

Santa Ana, Calif. (AP) -- Two men accused of plotting attacks on military sites and other targets in Southern California in 2005 were expected to plead guilty to terrorism conspiracy charges Friday, prosecutors said.

Kevin James and Levar Haley Washington were set to enter the pleas in federal court in Santa Ana, the U.S. attorney's office said in a statement. Both were indicted two years ago on federal charges, including conspiring to wage war against the U.S. government through terrorism.

Authorities claim James, Washington and two others were a cell of a California prison gang of radical Muslims that was planning attacks on military facilities, synagogues and other sites in the Los Angeles area. The attacks were to be carried out with firearms and other weapons, authorities said.

Police uncovered the plot in July 2005 while investigating a string of gas station robberies that authorities say were committed to finance the attacks.

Also indicted in the case were Gregory Vernon Patterson and Hammad Riaz Samana. All but Samana, a Pakistani national, are American born and Muslim converts.

Washington faces a sentence of five years to life in prison, and James could be sentenced to as much as 20 years, according to their plea agreements.

Authorities said the plot was orchestrated by Washington, Patterson and Samana at the behest of James, a California State Prison, Sacramento, inmate who founded the radical group Jamiyyat Ul-Islam Is-Saheeh, or JIS.

Washington converted to Islam while imprisoned with James, then looked to recruit other members of the group, according to authorities.

[GOP Poet]

Let’s hope they keep these wacko terrorists away from the general population. Sounds like they could go about recruiting many more in prison.

[Lurker]

All but Samana, a Pakistani national, are American born and Muslim converts.

islam is death cult. We should no more tolerate its existence than we should the resurgence of the Nazi party.

L

[HardStarboard]

>>>Authorities claim James, Washington and two others were a cell of a California prison gang of radical Muslims that was...<<<

We are treating the proliferation of radical-Islam, in the general public, but particularly in our prisons, far too lightly. In PC America, it is probably too much to hope that a task force to determine the level of Islamic radicalism dedicated to the overthrow of the U.S. in our prisons and Mosques be implimented by the next President.....but it is needed!!

[gonzo]

Noted! Buy more ammo, though, just in case ................... FRegards