“In what has to be one of the least fair decisions in history, a federal judge has sentenced three of the four men convicted of plotting to blow up synagogues in the Bronx and shoot down a military jet to 25 years in prison

…In a case absolutely choking with troubling questions about the behavior of the FBI and a paid informant, U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon still levied the tough sentence on three of the so-called Newburgh 4: James Cromitie, David Williams, Onta Williams. The fourth defendant, Laguerre Payen, is yet to be sentenced.

…All four defendants were former convicts stricken with poverty. One, Payen, was described as almost mentally retarded. None of them would have had the brains or the means to come up with such a plot, unless [Shahed] Hussain was there, pushing them along, and the government was there providing the ideas, the money, the equipment, the transportation and the weapons–all of which were of course fake.”

FULL ARTICLE: http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/06/newburgh_4_terr_3.php

“A reading of U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon’s May 3 order denying motions for a new trial by the Newburgh 4 shows several additional criticisms of the government’s case…

…McMahon on Shahed Hussain, the informant who pushed the plot ahead on the FBI’s direction: “An ex-con with his own shady past and a pronounced history of lying for his own personal benefit.”

…”There is no question in my mind that Hussain perjured himself at trial” in testimony about offering the quartet only $5,000 when he had actually offered $250,000.

…”The fact he was a serial liar was certainly not kept from the jury.”

…”There is no question in my mind that Hussain perjured himself at trial” in testimony about offering the quartet only $5,000 when he had actually offered $250,000.

…”The fact he was a serial liar was certainly not kept from the jury.”

…On James Cromitie, the lead defendant: “He certainly talked the talk during the long courtship between him and Hussain … But he was reluctant to walk the walk…Cromitie, who was desperately poor, accepted meals and rent money from Hussain, he repeatedly backed away from his violent statements when it came time to act on them.”

…After Hussain offered Cromite $250,000, “Only when the offers became outrageously high–and when Cromitie was particularly vulnerable to them, because he had lost his job–did he finally succumb.”

…”There is not the slightest doubt in my mind that James Cromitie could never have dreamed up the scenario in which he actually became involved. And if by some chance he had, he would not have had the slightest idea how to make it happen.”

…On who armed the fake bombs: “Hussain ‘armed’ then on the trip south, because Cromitie, despite ‘training,’ could not figure out how to do it.”

…On David Williams’ role in the “plot” and the other two defendants: “The issue common to all three men is the conspicuous lack of any evidence about their thoughts on Jihad or terrorism prior to the time when they were recruited.”

…”The government has not pointed to anything that [they] did or said that could possibly be characterized as ‘independent’ of the sting operation.”

…On Williams’ lack of knowledge about the “plot.” “It is apparent that Cromite had not fully disclosed to Williams what he and Hussain were up to.”

…”Nothing any of these men did was the product of any independent motivation on their parts.”

…On the FBI role in “manufacturing” the crime: “It is beyond question that the government created the crime here.”

…Alicia McWilliams, the aunt of David Williams, said she is planning a rally on June 7, the date of the sentencing, at the federal courthouse in Manhattan. She says she is now looking ahead to the appeals process, but the judge’s decision hit her hard.

…”I felt like I had been punched in the stomach,” she says. “She pointed out everything they did wrong, but no one had the courage to stand up and do anything about it. I could see her giving them five years, but sending him away for life on a crime manufactured by the government is just unbelievable.”

FULL ARTICLE: http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/05/newburgh_4_terr_2.php

“​A federal judge has upheld the convictions of the Newburgh 4, for plotting to blow up two synagogues and shoot down military airplanes, even though she sharply criticized the government for its tactics…

… [U.S. District Judge Colleen] McMahon, noting that the defense alleged the government created the criminal and manufactured the crime, said in a written ruling “There is some truth to that description of what transpired here. Nonetheless, the motion is denied.”

… According to Courthouse News Service, she also wrote, “There is something decidedly troubling about the Government’s behavior vis a vis Cromitie, for three reasons.” 
McMahon noted that Cromitie was unlikely to commit a crime without the support of the FBI, that he was “utterly inept,” and waited nine months to “take the bait that was offered to him.”

MORE: http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/05/newburgh_4_judg_1.php