Brit's 47yr terror term (attempted to sell missiles to FBI agents)

The Sun (U.K.) ^ | September 13, 2005

[Stoat]

Brit's 47yr terror term

By SUN ONLINE REPORTERA BRITISH businessman was today beginning a 47-year jail sentence in the US after being convicted of attempting to support terrorism.

Hemant Lakhani, 70, of north London, carried out "horrendous" crimes that included brokering an arms deal for an undercover FBI agent.

He had been found guilty in April of attempting to support terrorism and illegal weapons brokering after a complex FBI sting that involved intelligence spanning three continents.

Passing sentence, Judge Katherine Hayden told New Jersey District Court in Newark: "There is overwhelming evidence that Mr Lakhani was prepared to sell missiles to terrorists to shoot down aircraft which could have killed hundreds of human beings," she said.

 

Lakhani, who was convicted in April, broke down as he addressed the court, pleading for leniency.

"You have no idea what this has done to me," he said.

"My health is no good, I can hardly walk, I do not want to die here in this country.

"Me, my wife and my son are a small unit and I wish to get home as soon as possible. Everybody wants to die in their own motherland. I am completely exhausted."

The Indian-born clothing merchant has been behind bars since his arrest in August 2003.

A jury unanimously convicted him of five charges including two counts of money laundering and importing merchandise into the US by means of false statements after a five-week trial.

The prosecution hailed the conviction as a victory in the war on terror.

Stuart Rabner, prosecuting, said it was clear that Lakhani would go to any lengths to close the arms deal, regardless of the consequences.

"This is a man that is so morally bankrupt he doesn’t care if his actions
cause the deaths of thousands as long as he makes money," he said.

Lakhani never denied the fact, but always claimed he was the victim of
entrapment.

His lawyer, Henry Klingeman, described him as a "bumbling, incompetent who was clearly out of his depth".

He said the government should have given up on him long before they completed the arrest.

Lakhani was arrested when customs officers and FBI agents raided a Newark hotel room moments after he presented a single "sample" missile to an informant posing as a member of a Somali terrorist group.

Lakhani allegedly said that the rockets he was selling could be used to shoot down 10-15 planes simultaneously on the second anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks.

Judge Hayden said that given his age and ill health, Lakhani should be
authorised a supervised release and be jailed in a facility that could cater to his physical and mental health needs.

[Stoat]

Lakhani jailed for 47 years HindustanTimes.com-UK News for UK Asians

Lakhani jailed for 47 years by US court

Vijay Dutt

London, September 13, 2005

An American court jailed a north London-based Indian-origin businessman Hemant Lakhani, 70, for 47 years for carrying out "horrendous" crimes that included brokering an arms deal for an undercover FBI agent.

His arrest over two years ago had shocked the Indian community here. Both, Lakhani and his wife were respected and popular couple and were involved in various charity works.

But he was found guilty in April of attempting to support terrorism and illegal weapons brokering after a complex FBI sting that involved intelligence spanning three continents, including Russia.

Judge Katherine Hayden told New Jersey District Court in Newark: "There is overwhelming evidence that Lakhani was prepared to sell missiles to terrorists to shoot down aircraft which could have killed hundreds of human beings," she said. "He illustrated a single-minded greed and determination to profit from the arms trade."

Lakhani broke down as he addressed the court, pleading for leniency. "You have no idea what this has done to me," he said. "My health is no good, I can hardly walk, and I do not want to die here in this country.

"Me, my wife and my son are a small unit and I wish to get home as soon as possible. Everybody wants to die in his or her own motherland. I am completely exhausted."

A jury unanimously convicted him of five charges including two counts of money laundering and importing merchandise into the US by means of false statements after a five-week trial. The prosecution hailed the conviction as a victory in the war on terror.

Lakhani's wife, Kusum, also addressed the court, tearfully insisting that her family had no links to terrorist groups. "We are normal people, we have a good life in London, we live normally and we are God-fearing," she said. "Myself and my son are ashamed of this outcome but please consider our name and our family."

The prosecution said that while accepting these factors it could not be ignored that Lakhani had committed horrendous crimes that could have had dire consequences for hundreds of innocent people.

[Stoat]

The depth of denial from the terrorist and his family is revolting.  He had even produced an ACTUAL MISSILE for the agents and still they only cry over themselves.

[Eagles6]

Bye-bye.

[Eagles6]

Bye-bye. Don't drop the soap.

[Stoat]

hehe! Hopefully the investigation that resulted in this conviction will also result in many more. He had gotten a MISSILE into a Newark hotel room, so he certainly had lots of help.

[G-Bob]

The details of this case are a little troubling.

He actually didn't get a real missile into the Hotel. He got a mock-up of a missle that was provided to him by the FBI.

The guy is an amoral scumbag but this case stinks of entrapment.

[G-Bob]

The FBI provided him with the missile and the buyer was also an FBI agent.

This case stinks.

[Stoat]

This article from the time of his arrest contains information which supports your perspective:

"Some terrorism experts, however, said the value of the sting was only symbolic. Lakhani is not a known terrorist or big player in arms deals, and no terrorist group was involved, they said.

"This was not stopping a terrorist event," the former director of the CIA's counter-terrorism centre, Vincent Cannistraro, said. "This guy wouldn't have done it if the Russians hadn't set him up."

Briton wanted to smuggle 50 missiles FBI - smh.com.au

Briton wanted to smuggle 50 missiles: FBI

By Steve Strunsky in Newark August 15, 2003

 

Hemant Lakhani arrives at court in Newwark on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters

A suspected arms dealer was arranging to smuggle 50 more shoulder-fired missiles into the United States soon after securing one of the weapons, according to an FBI affidavit.

He had believed the Russian-made weapon was intended to shoot down an airliner.

The document also says that Hemant Lakhani, dealing with an undercover FBI agent he believed to be a Muslim terrorist, was recorded as saying Osama bin Laden "did a good thing" and "straightened them all out".

Lakhani, 68, a Briton described as a "significant international arms dealer", is charged with attempting to provide material support and resources to terrorists and acting as an arms broker without a licence.

"The terrorists who have threatened America lost an ally in their attempts to kill our citizens," the federal prosecutor for New Jersey, Christopher Christie, said after Lakhani's arraignment on Tuesday.

Lakhani, now detained, appeared with Moinuddeen Ahmed Hameed, a Malaysian, who was charged with helping to finance the deal. A third man, Yehuda Abraham, 75, was charged separately in the US federal court in New York and taken into custody.

Lakhani and two other men were arrested on Tuesday after an 18-month investigation by the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force in Newark and Russian and British authorities, Mr Christie said.

The most serious charge Lakhani faces carries a 15-year maximum prison sentence. Those against the other men carry five-year maximum sentences.

At his ranch in Crawford, Texas, the US President, George Bush, said Lakhani's arrest undercuts criticism that his Administration was not doing enough to fight terrorism.

"The fact that we're able to sting this guy is a pretty good example of what we're doing in order to protect the American people," Mr Bush said.

Justice Department officials applauded the sting, but some said they were frustrated that news of Lakhani's arrest leaked before investigators could determine whether he might lead them to other operatives.

Lakhani was arrested at a hotel near Newark International Airport, a day after a sealed arrest warrant was issued for him and the other men.

He had agreed to deliver a missile to US agents posing as buyers after he obtained it from Russian agents posing as sellers, Mr Christie said.

Lakhani's lawyer, Donald McCauley, refused to comment.

Mr Christie said Hameed had been summoned by Lakhani from Malaysia to launder a $US500,000 ($759,959) downpayment on an additional 50 missiles that undercover agents sought from Lakhani, after one missile was shipped at a cost of $US86,000.

Some terrorism experts, however, said the value of the sting was only symbolic. Lakhani is not a known terrorist or big player in arms deals, and no terrorist group was involved, they said.

"This was not stopping a terrorist event," the former director of the CIA's counter-terrorism centre, Vincent Cannistraro, said. "This guy wouldn't have done it if the Russians hadn't set him up."

Associated Press, AFP, Newsday

[MonitorMaid]

Lakhani, now detained, appeared with Moinuddeen Ahmed Hameed, a Malaysian, who was charged with helping to finance the deal. A third man, Yehuda Abraham, 75, was charged separately in the US federal court in New York and taken into custody.

A Hindu, A Muslim, and a Jew? Quite the trio?

[G-Bob]

Thanks for posting the article.

[Stoat]

 

Truly amazing for sure. As FReeper G-Bob mentions, however, there definitely seem to be a lot of troubling questions surrounding this case that I hadn't been aware of after looking at the Sun, the Hindustan Times and the Seattle P - I, none of which mentioned these controversies, for some reason.  I had to go back to a two year old article in order to find them.  What happened in the meantime?  The SMH article stated that the maximum sentence that he could get would be 15 years, yet it turns out that he's getting 47 years.  Why is that?

Also, even considering the controversies, the jury was apparently unanimous in their decision.  I am assuming that they were given even more information about the matter than the press would give us. There do seem to be a number of inconsistencies with the whole thing that were not apparent to me at the time of my posting the article. Why did the FBI as well as agencies from several other countries spend years setting up this sting if he was not a terror threat? 

[Stoat]

Thanks for posting the article.

You're quite welcome....I'm just looking for the truth in this matter, which seems to become more elusive the deeper I delve into it  "sigh"

[albee]

"Lakhani, now detained, appeared with Moinuddeen Ahmed Hameed, a Malaysian, who was charged with helping to finance the deal. A third man, Yehuda Abraham, 75, was charged separately in the US federal court in New York and taken into custody. "

This gang that couldn't shoot straight is composed of a bunch of Geriatric Gentlemen!

Let 'em all die in jail as a lesson to others.

[Stoat]

BBC NEWS Americas Terror Briton jailed for 47 years

Terror Briton jailed for 47 years

 

Hemant Lakhani said he had been entrapped

Briton Hemant Lakhani has been jailed for 47 years for trying to sell a missile to an undercover FBI agent.

Lakhani was convicted in April of attempting to support terrorism after being caught in a sting.

He was also convicted at the court in Newark, New Jersey, of weapons brokering, money laundering and importing goods using false statements.

The 69-year-old, from Hendon, north London, had denied the charges, saying he was a victim of entrapment.

Lakhani was arrested in August 2003 after offering a shoulder-fired Igla missile to an FBI agent posing as a Somali terrorist.

He was one of three people held after a two-year operation by the FBI, UK and Russian intelligence services.

Judge Katherine Hayden told New Jersey District Court in Newark: "There is overwhelming evidence that Mr Lakhani was prepared to sell missiles to terrorists to shoot down aircraft which could have killed hundreds of human beings.

There was no missile plot until the government created it   Henry Klingeman Defence lawyer

"He illustrated a single-minded greed and determination to profit from the arms trade."

The judge dismissed three attempts to secure a retrial, saying media interviews with a juror who said she was pressured into finding Lakhani guilty were not sufficient.

The judge said because of the defendant's age and ill health, he should be allowed supervised release and be held in a jail that allowed him to be treated.

Lakhani tearfully pleaded for leniency: "You have no idea what this has done to me.

"My health is no good, I can hardly walk, I do not want to die here in this country.

"Me, my wife and my son are a small unit and I wish to get home as soon as possible. Everybody wants to die in their own motherland. I am completely exhausted."

Entrapment claims

Prosecutor Stuart Rabner said: "This is a man that is so morally bankrupt he doesn't care if his actions cause the deaths of thousands as long as he makes money.

"We see a man who worked for years to break into the arms trade, who volunteered praise for Osama Bin Laden and travelled more than a dozen times to Russia, the Ukraine and the US to make this deal."

But his lawyer, Henry Klingeman, had told the court during the trial: "There was no missile plot until the government created it."

Mr Klingeman described his client as a "joke" who "couldn't finish a deal if his life depended on it".

Lakhani had wanted to make money and was enjoying the attention but was not an illegal arms dealer, Mr Klingeman said.

But prosecutors said there had been no entrapment and said Lakhani had participated with "gusto".

They also claimed he had tried to sell arms to at least three countries.

The trial, which began in January, had to be repeatedly adjourned as Lakhani underwent surgery for severe artery damage, a double hernia and internal bleeding.

Lakhani was born in India, but had lived in the UK for 45 years.

BBC NEWS UK The bogus arms deal which led to jail

The bogus arms deal which led to jail

 

Lekhani inspects the replica missile

Briton Hemant Lakhani has been found guilty of attempting to support terrorism, after trying to sell a shoulder-launched missile to an undercover FBI agent.

The 69-year-old, of Hendon, north London, had denied the charges, saying he was a victim of entrapment

The BBC News website looks at the background to the case.

In 2001 Hemant Lakhani, an Indian-born British businessman living in Hendon, north London, went to Dubai to look for financial backing for a £130m deal on an Indian oil-refinery project.

While he was there, a contact encouraged him to speak to a rich Saudi friend who could help.

The friend was Mohammed Habib Rehman, also known as Air Haji, an undercover US Government informant.

The pair began conversations in December 2001.

Mr Rehman told Lakhani he represented a rebel Somali liberation group and was interested in arms - in particular shoulder-fired missiles.

Lakhani, who was eager to please his new contact, said he would try to help.

He had previously made one arms deal, which was the legal sale of 11 armoured personnel carriers to the government of Angola.

Illegal deal

To make the deal for Mr Rehman, Lakhani received help from a man called Sergi in the Ukraine. Lakhani has claimed Sergi was working for Russian intelligence.

Sergi said he could supply Lakhani with Russian-made shoulder-fired missiles, called Igla.

When Lakhani told Mr Rehman he could get hold of the missiles, Mr Rehman instructed him to export the weapon to New Jersey, promising cash.

Mr Rehman said he would buy 200 weapons - a deal worth £11m, but told Lakhani to ship in one sample missile to begin with.

The two later met up at a hotel overlooking Newark airport in New Jersey. Mr Rehman explained to Lakhani that the deal was illegal.

He also told him he planned to use the missiles on the first anniversary of the 11 September attacks, and suggested the missile would be used to target a commercial aircraft.

However as time went on, Lakhani began to make remarks about the risks they were taking, saying the deal was "very dangerous" and "not very easy".

In November 2002, he told Mr Rehman: "This business is getting so dangerous. No one has the guts to do it... I won't do anything if it's risky."

Despite the risks, the plans eventually took shape, and in July 2003 Lakhani and Mr Rehman travelled to Russia, under the watch of intelligence agents, to meet with the suppliers and inspect the missile.

But unknown to Lakhani, the missile had been replaced with a replica model.

On August 12, 2003, the missile was delivered to Newark. Lakhani met Mr Rehman there to inspect the weapon, saying: "I can't believe what we have done."

After discussing payment for the remainder of the order, Mr Rehman left the room.

It was then stormed by FBI agents and customs officials.

Lakhani was charged and then placed in custody in New Jersey until his trial, which began in January 2005.

[Regulator]

Terror Briton jailed for 47 years

He's not British. He's Indian.

[G-Bob]

This guy was an amoral piece of crap but we are no safer from terrorists with him behind bars.

The facts of this story make me ill.