Posted on 02/04/2012 9:06:14 AM PST by Impala64ssa
NEW YORK — Lawyers for the Newburgh Four have launched their appeal, arguing that a lying FBI informant used money, religion and even love to lure their clients into a terroristic scheme.
The men were arrested in May 2009, minutes after they placed bombs outside a synagogue and Jewish community center in the Bronx. The explosives were fakes supplied by the FBI as part of an elaborate sting operation.
The four men — James Cromitie, David Williams, Laguerre Payen and Onta Williams — were convicted of terrorism charges in 2010 after a two-month trial and sentenced to 25 years in federal prison.
The trial was seen by legal experts as a test of the entrapment defense. Defense attorneys claimed Shahed Hussain, a Pakistani motel owner who became an FBI informant following a fraud conviction, manipulated the men so completely that the government was guilty of misconduct.
In their appeal, attorneys for Onta Williams pushed that theme even further, claiming Hussain "flirted" with "and "flattered" Cromitie to deepen their bond.
"There is no doubt that, in some very real sense, Cromitie loved Hussain," the brief said.
The court document quoted conversations between the men that suggest a close bond.
"I smile when I'm with you 'cause you crazy," Cromitie told Hussain. "You're like me. That's good."
Attorney Clinton Calhoun inherited responsibility for Cromitie's defense after the trial attorney, Vincent Briccetti, became a federal judge. Calhoun also focused on the close relationship that he claims Hussain used to manipulate Cromitie, but said it wasn't a romantic relationship.
"The essence of what occurred here is that a government, understandably zealous to protect its citizens from terrorism, came upon a man both bigoted and suggestible, one who was incapable of committing an act of terrorism on his own, created acts of terrorism out of his fantasies of bravado and bigotry, and made those fantasies come true."
Prosecutors are expected to respond to the appeal in writing.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.