Former S.I. Man Convicted Of Lying About Teaming Up With Terrorists
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A terror suspect was convicted in Brooklyn Monday of lying to the FBI about plans to team up with the Taliban or al-Qaeda.
The jury found Abdel Hameed Shehadeh guilty in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn.
Friends of Shehadeh testified that he spoke of wanting to die waging violent jihad abroad against the U.S. military. They said the former Staten Island resident had hoped to attend a terrorist training camp in Pakistan.
The defendant first drew the attention of the FBI in 2008 when he bought a one-way plane ticket to Islamabad. Prosecutors said he later lied by saying he was going to get religious training.
The trial made headlines during the jury selection process, not because of Shehadeh himself, but because of remarks by his attorney.
Cohn told the court he didn't believe his client could get a fair trial if Jews are on the jury.
"Given that there's going to be inflammatory testimony about Jews and Zionism, I think it would be hard for Jews to cast aside any innate antipathy," said Cohn, who happens to be Jewish himself.
Cohn said the judge ruled against his request, and seeking to ban Jews from a jury won little public sympathy outside the court.
Shehadeh faces up to 21 years in prison at sentencing. No date has been set.
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