Man convicted of trying to sell arms to terrorists
NEWARK, N.J. -- A former British clothing merchant was convicted yesterday of attempting to sell shoulder-launched missiles to what he believed was a terrorist group planning to shoot down airliners.
The federal jury reached its verdict in its second day of deliberations, finding Hemant Lakhani guilty on all five counts.
Lakhani, 69, was arrested in 2003 at a hotel room near the Newark airport after getting caught in a sting operation in which undercover operatives posed as terrorists and arms dealers. Prosecutors said he agreed to arrange the sale of more than 50 missiles.
It was the first terrorism case prosecuted in New Jersey since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
US Attorney Christopher J. Christie called the verdict ''a triumph for the Justice Department in the war against terror." Lakhani, he added, ''didn't care who he was dealing them to, or what they wanted to use them for."
Prosecutors said Lakhani, a British citizen of Indian descent, was heard in one taped conversation saying Osama bin Laden ''straightened these idiots -- he did a very good thing," in reference to the Sept. 11 attacks, and spoke about providing the missiles in time for the one-year anniversary of the attacks.
His attorney, Henry Klingeman, insisted that Lakhani had no sympathies with terrorist groups, and argued that his client was a victim of entrapment. ''There was no missile plot until the government created it," Klingeman told the jury. ''It's a lot like a fireman who lights a fire and then pulls the alarm so he can be the hero."
Lakhani was convicted of attempting to provide material support to terrorists, money laundering, and other charges. The most serious charges carry up to 20 years in prison. Sentencing was set for Aug. 8.
Three others connected to the case pleaded guilty to money laundering or related charges but denied any connections to terrorist organizations. They are awaiting sentencing.
The jury saw a covertly made video of the hotel meeting that showed Lakhani laughing and joking with a government informant, Mohammad Habib Rehman, about using missiles against commercial planes. In a box was a disabled shoulder-fired missile.
