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Brooklyn judge throws the book at jihadi conspirator
A Brooklyn bookseller was sentenced yesterday to 13 years in jail after admitting to federal authorities that he was involved in a money-laundering scheme to raise money for jihadists in Chechnya and Afghanistan, officials said. Prosecutors said Abdelrahman Farhane, 52, used his Islamic bookstore to help raise money for terrorists who were planning to buy weapons. He also pleaded guilty to lying to federal agents. Judge Loretta Preska imposed the sentence even as Farhane's children protested his innocence, saying he was confused and duped into believing he was helping to fund an operation aimed at helping poor people. "I love America," Farhane said before his sentencing. Mr. Farhane is accused of conspiring to send money to Afghanistan for the purpose of buying communications equipment and weapons for Islamic fighters warring against American soldiers there. In December 2001, a confidential FBI source visited Farhane's Atlantic Avenue store and discussed with Farhane, in recorded conversations, a plan to send money overseas to support jihad. The conversations focused specifically on Chechnya and Afghanistan, where "fighters" could obtain wireless communications equipment and advanced weaponry, officials said. "He wasn't thinking of enemies to America," said Farhane's daughter, Asmaa Farhane, 25. "He was thinking of poor people." Farhane's attorney, Michael Hueston, said Farhane did not admit to being a terrorist. Posted by: ryuge 2007-04-17 |
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