Nov 19, 2009 1:17 pm US/Eastern
Third Man Sentenced In Liberty City Terror Case
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
-
-
The alleged leader of the original 'Liberty City 7' was caught on tape talking to an informant he thought was an al Qaeda member.
CBS4 News
A third Miami man has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in a terrorism plot to destroy Chicago's Sears Tower and blow up Miami's U.S. courthouses and FBI offices.
U.S. District Judge Joan Lenard sentenced 34-year-old Stanley Phanor to eight years behind bars.
Phanor was convicted in May along with four others on terror-related charges for involvement in the plot, which never got beyond the discussion stage.
Wednesday, Judge Lenard sentenced 24-year-old Burson Augustin to six years. His older brother, 26-year-old Rotschild Augustine, was sentenced to seven years behind bars. Prosecutors sought maximum 30-year sentences for both men. But Lenard found they were not major players in the plot.
Two more are yet to be sentenced, including ringleader Narseal Batiste who faces a maximum of 70-years behind bars.
Batiste testified the terror talks were never real and that he was trying to extort $50,000 from an FBI informant posing as an al-Qaida operative. But the men were recorded by the FBI pledging allegiance to al-Qaida and Osama bin Laden.
All five men, known as the "Liberty City Five" were convicted in May of supporting al Qaeda, conspiring to wage war on the U.S. and other charges. Two previous trials ended in mistrials, and two other men were acquitted. All denied plotting terror attacks.
Defense attorneys had argued that the men were just "dirt poor" and pretended to be terrorists or supporters to try and extort $50,000 from an FBI informant posing as an al Qaeda operative. Batiste testified that he only went along with terrorism discussions because he wanted the money. But the men were recorded by the FBI pledging allegiance to al Qaeda and Osama bin Laden.
(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
Super Bowl Ad: Snickers & Betty White
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
Comments