2005 Los Angeles bomb plot

Background

The plot is one in a series of terrorist-related attacks and failed attacks by Muslims on military installations in the United States, including the 2009 New York terrorism plot, the 2007 Fort Dix attack plot, the 2009 Little Rock recruiting office shooting, and the September 11 attacks on the Pentagon.

Suspects

• Kevin Lamar James, founded J.I.S. (Jam’iyyat Ul-Islam Is-Saheeh) in 2004 while in prison, recruiting fellow inmates, and then others after his release in December 2004.
• Levar Haney Washington, Muslim convert, a U.S. national; arrested 5 July for armed robbery.
• Gregory Vernon Patterson, a U.S. national; purchased a .223-caliber rifle and arrested 5 July for armed robbery.
• Hammad Riaz Samana, a lawful permanent U.S. resident originally from Pakistan; allegedly trained with firearms; arrested 2 August.

Several of the suspects formed a group called Jam’iyyat Ul-Islam Is-Saheeh from inside a California state prison About a month later, Washington was released from prison and recruited Patterson and Samana, neither of whom had a criminal record, at an Inglewood mosque.

Conviction

On 14 December 2007, Kevin James pleaded guilty to "conspiracy to levy war against the United States through terrorism" and was sentenced to 16 years in federal prison. Levar Washington also pleaded guilty to the same charges plus an additional weapons charge and was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison.

Gregory Patterson pled guilty to the same conspiracy and weapons charges as Washington and was sentenced to just over 12.5 years in federal prison. Hammad Samana was initially found to be unfit to stand trial and underwent psychiatric treatment. However, in 2009, he was subsequently charged and sentenced to just under 6 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to levy war against the U. S government through terrorism.

In an interview with the prosecutor, the reporter remarked that "the cell appears to have been remarkably indiscreet about committing plans to paper. They even left the text of a press release Mr. James had written for use once they committed a successful attack. And one of the ringleaders, James, was in prison the whole time." Documents such as these formed the basis of the evidence, since the group hadn't gotten to the point of gathering materials to make explosives.

Aftermath

Gregory Patterson served roughly 8 years of his sentenced and was released from a federal halfway house in Long Beach, California on September 22, 2016. Hammad Samana was released from FCI Englewood in Littleton, Colorado on August, 30, 2010. He was then taken into custody by Immigration, Customs and Enforcement before being deported to Pakistan in November 2010.

A 2011 NPR report claimed both Kevin James (who legally changed his name to Ahmed Binyamin Alasiri) and Levar Washington were both imprisoned in the highly restrictive Communication Management Unit.

James was released from federal custody in September 2019. While on federal supervised release in Long Beach, California, he sold 1.7 kilograms (3.4 pounds) methamphetamine to a buyer over three meetings. He was indicted on one count of distributing methamphetamine and was sentenced to over 15 years in prison. He is currently incarcerated at FCI Tucson in Tucson, Arizona and is projected to be released from prison on July 27, 2031.

Washington was initially set for release from federal custody in September 2024. In 2017, he was sentenced to an additional 6 years in federal prison after he stabbed a fellow inmate with a "shank" 13 to 15 times while they were both housed in USP Allenwood in Pennsylvania. In 2022, Washington was sentenced to a further term of over 13 years to run consecutively to both other sentences after stabbed a correctional officer with an 11-inch shank at USP Pollock in Louisiana. Washington is currently serving his sentences at ADX Florence, the federal supermax prison in Florence, Colorado. His projected release date is February 3, 2043.

References

References

1. Marquez, Jeremiah. (2005-09-01). "Four indicted in alleged terrorist plot against LA-area targets".
2. (2005-08-31). "Four charged with hatching prison terror plot".
3. (31 August 2006). "Four Men Indicted on Terrorism Charges Related to Conspiracy to Attack Military Facilities, Other Targets". Department of Justice.
4. (31 August 2005). "Prepared Remarks of Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales at the California Terrorism Indictment Press Conference". Department of Justice.
5. Robert S. Mueller, III. (23 June 2006). "Remarks Prepared for Delivery by Director Robert S. Mueller, III". FBI.
6. Donald Van Duyn. (19 September 2006). "Statement of Donald Van Duyn Deputy Assistant Director, Counterterrorism Division Federal Bureau of Investigation Before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and Related Agencies". FBI.
7. New York Times, [https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/24/nyregion/24convert.html Imams Reject Talk That Islam Radicalizes Inmates] {{Webarchive. link. (2018-09-24 , DANIEL J. WAKIN, May 23, 2009.)
8. (2009-03-07). "Ex-gang member jailed over Calif. terror plot".
9. "#08-634: Second Man Involved in Domestic Terrorism Plot Targeting Military, Jewish Facilities Sentenced to Prison (2008-07-21)".
10. Murr, Andrew. (15 December 2007). "Thwarting Terror". Newsweek.
11. (2010-11-22). "Archived: ICE removes terrorist to Pakistan {{!}} ICE".
12. (2022-03-28). "Central District of California {{!}} Convicted Terrorist Sentenced to Over 15 Years in Federal Prison for Selling Pounds of Methamphetamine While on Supervised Release {{!}} United States Department of Justice".
13. (2017-05-15). "Middle District of Pennsylvania {{!}} Inmate Sentenced To Six Years For Assault With Dangerous Weapon {{!}} United States Department of Justice".
14. (2022-02-18). "Western District of Louisiana {{!}} Two Defendants Sentenced in U.S. District Court {{!}} United States Department of Justice".
15. [https://www.npr.org/2011/03/03/134227726/data-graphics-population-of-the-communications-management-units DATA & GRAPHICS: Population Of The Communications Management Units] {{Webarchive. link. (2011-03-07 , Margot Williams and Alyson Hurt, [[NPR]], 3-3-11, retrieved 2011 03 04 from npr.org)