‘Millennium Bomber’ Sentence Overturned…for Being Too Lenient
- Posted on March 12, 2012 at 5:05pm by
Mytheos Holt
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LOS ANGELES (AP/The Blaze) — A federal appeals court on Monday overturned a 22-year prison sentenced for convicted “millennium bomber” Ahmed Ressam, calling it unreasonably lenient.
In a 7-4 split decision, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the government’s appeal and sent the case back to a federal judge for resentencing.
Ressam was arrested in Washington state in 1999 on his way to bomb Los Angeles International Airport in what became known as the millennium terror plot. Authorities say they found more than 100 pounds of chemicals and other materials in his car that were capable of producing a massive bomb.
Investigators have said the Algerian national attended three training camps for Islamic terrorists in Afghanistan between March 1998 and February 1999.
He was convicted of nine criminal counts, but his case went through a complicated process with changes of venue and appeals from both sides. The trial was held in Los Angeles.
The 22-year sentence was twice imposed by a federal judge in Seattle, well short of the 65 years to life recommended by sentencing guidelines.
“Obviously, I’m disappointed that we have to go through another sentencing,” said Tom Hillier, the federal public defender who argued the case before the appellate court in Seattle. “It’s been a long haul for Ahmed. But when it comes to terrorism cases, there are some fairly strong opinions on what should be” the sentence.
He said the judge will have to impose a sentence longer than 22 years but the appellate court did not specify any specific length.
Ressam was a member of the Armed Islamic Group, an armed terrorist group from Algeria. He was arrested near Seattle en route to attempt a bombing of the Los Angeles airport. The story of his arrest is chronicled in the documentary “Path to 9/11.” The relevant segment can be watched below:
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mobynowak
Posted on March 13, 2012 at 3:05pm“It’s been a long haul for Ahmed”
Yeah, that’s really sad. Poor Ahmed. He really must be suffering.
Report Post »sasquatch08
Posted on March 13, 2012 at 12:34amNew sentence should be “to be smeared in pork fat and fed to sharks”.
Report Post »Oznogs
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 11:22pmI am amazed that this came down from the 9th circus court. Then again 4 of them did not want it overturned. Liberals……….what more can i say.
Report Post »texanpatriot
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 10:52pmMan, when you a terrorist you just can’t catch a break.
I will be glad when the Congress does it duty in removing stupid judges from their bench…
Wiki:
Report Post »The impeachment process may be triggered by non-members. For example, when the Judicial Conference of the United States suggests a federal judge be impeached, a charge of what actions constitute grounds for impeachment may come from a special prosecutor, the President, a state or territorial legislature, grand jury, or by petition.
db321
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 11:10pmIf he is re-sentenced – I may be wrong, but it may be unconstitutional and he may walk – I hope I’m wrong – wow! what a message the DOJ would be sending to our enemies. I smell a rat!
Report Post »Strongconservitive
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 10:24pmsend the guy to gitmo
Report Post »Strongconservitive
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 10:13pmfor bloody sake, send the guy to gitmo and call it quits
Report Post »Carefreeflyer
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 9:25pmIt should be the Death penalty. Nothing less.
Report Post »lothlorien
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 10:42pmAgreed. Death penalty. No sense in sending him to a nice little playground on the beach and we have to support him the rest of his life while he lies around getting his suntan and playing polo.
Report Post »drmarkr
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 8:16pmU.S. District Judge John Coughenour is the judge……a@@wipe should be impeached.
Report Post »go2mikerenzi
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 7:34pmthey should execute him in a 3 stage process… 1- lethal injection 2- revive him 3- firing squad.. works for me!
Report Post »Melvin Spittle
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 8:26pmI have no problem with having him drawn and quartered or stretched and disemboweled.
Report Post »ACACIA
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 7:33pmtoo bad it couldn’t be the dealth penalty. bleeding heart liberals.
Report Post »GoodStuff
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 7:30pmScrew the courts. Military tribunals for these bastards. Give em the death penalty.
Report Post »DSTSS2010
Posted on March 24, 2012 at 3:23pmTerrorist attacks should be considered as “War Crimes”! A firing squad would be an appropriate form of punishment.
Report Post »txwheels
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 6:48pmI believe what is called for here sentence wise is, 2 strong sapling trees bent to the ground, then each ankle tied to said trees just prior to releasing those trees. Of course have a good ‘ole Colt 1911 .45 along just in case.
Report Post »Spqr1
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 6:35pmProof that the justice system of the US is able to deal with terrorists on US soil, unlike what the GOP cowards think…
Report Post »islamhater
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 7:27pmHe was caught on U.S. soil. These other’s you speak of did not. They were caught on a battle field end of story.
Report Post »go2mikerenzi
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 7:39pmno.. proof it doesn’t
Report Post »Spqr1
Posted on March 13, 2012 at 2:41pmWell, I drove right past his place of incarceration 3-5 times a month for over a year. I had perfect faith in our law enforcement officers to keep him locked up and away from us. Why? Because I’m not an irrational coward. And where they were captured is not relevant to the issue, locked up in a high-security facility on US soil, is still locked up in a high-security facility on US soil. To think other wise is an insult to the ENTIRE law enforcement community. And all this talk about taking him out and shooting him is further proof that conservatives do not, and have never believed in the rule of law.
Report Post »marine249
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 5:20pmthe 9th did the right thing????????? WOW
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 7:06pmMARINE249, Spent a former lifetime in law enforcement and have dealt with and understand these courts. Could have knocked me over with a feather after reading this about the 9th Circus Court!
Report Post »islamhater
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 7:24pmThis is to make the left look strong on national def. during an election year. Don’t be fooled….
Report Post »HumbleMan
Posted on March 24, 2012 at 11:10amThat’s what I was thinking. I wonder what they’re up to.
Report Post »Mark0331
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 5:19pm1 bullet…no tax payers dollars…end of story…time to get tough America.
Report Post »82dAirborne
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 5:24pmNo it should take 8 rounds: 2- ankles; 2- knees; 2- elbows; 2- wrists. Then wait for a while…….
Report Post »LouC57
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 5:27pmAgree with 82NDAIRBORNE.
Report Post »LibertarianRight
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 5:44pmYeah! Let’s all be sadistic murderers! That will totally prevent Muslims from believing there is a War on Islam and thus becoming jihadists to fight off foreign invaders with military bases propping up oppressive secular dictators in their lands!
Or it might convince more of them of that fact, and create more terrorists, thus perpetuating the cycle of violence even longer. Perhaps the judicial system is the way to go here. Unless we want another 9/11 style attack upon us by people who believe (right or wrong) they are fighting for the very survival of their religion…..
82dAirborne
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 5:47pmNot sadistic. Let the punishment fit the crime. Simple. We have tried being “reasonable.” Time to be realistic.
Report Post »capitalideals
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 5:48pmAyn Rand was right, libertarians are right wing hippies.
Report Post »possom
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 5:54pmI‘ll supply the bullet’s, no taxpayer money wasted!
Report Post »Mark0331
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 5:57pmI stand corrected 82nd…your right
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 7:09pmIf the death sentence applies I must say that it follow the the word of the law. But the funeral by the way of Black Jack Pershing’s implementation should be televised for all to witness.
Report Post »GO-FOR-LIBERTY
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 8:05pmAgree and America “IS” the battlefield!!!
Report Post »Todd P
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 10:10pmHowabout 30 seconds with a chainsaw? Or 3 minutes with a blowtorch?
Report Post »bulldawg
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 5:15pmHow about we set his butt on top of that bomb he built, and have 4th of July a little early. Then send his butt back wrap in a bacon blanket.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on March 12, 2012 at 5:07pmHow about we just do this case the simple way…give him to SEAL TEAM SIX.
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