Three U.S. citizens have pleaded guilty to planning attacks on U.S. military bases, synagogues and Israeli government facilities in the Los Angeles area.
Kevin James, 31, and Levar Haley Washington, 28, pleaded guilty in federal court in Santa Ana to conspiring to levy war against the United States on December 14, 2007. Washington also pleaded guilty to using a firearm to further that conspiracy. Both men admitted in their plea agreements that the purpose of their plot was "to retaliate against the governments of the United States and Israel by attacking targets in Southern California associated with the U.S. military and the Jewish religion."
A third defendant, Gregory Vernon Patterson, 23, also pleaded guilty in federal court in Santa Ana to conspiracy to levy war against the U.S. through terrorism and conspiracy to possess and discharge firearms on December 17, 2007.
The fourth defendant, indicted in 2005, Hammad Riaz Samana, a Pakistani national, has been declared mentally unfit to stand trial and is undergoing psychiatric care. He was charged with conspiracy to levy war against the U.S. government through terrorism, conspiracy to possess and discharge firearms in a violent crime, conspiracy to kill members of the U.S. government uniformed services and conspiracy to kill foreign officials.
In 1997, James, an inmate at the California State Prison in Sacramento, founded Jam'iyyat Ul-Islam Is-Saheeh (JIS), an organization based on his interpretation of Islam, according to court documents. As the leader of JIS, James preached targeting the U.S. and Israeli governments and Jews in retaliation for their policies regarding Muslims. James recruited Washington into JIS while they were inmates in prison together. Once Washington was released from prison, he recruited Patterson and Samana into the group.
According to James' plea agreement, he wrote and disseminated a document in prison that advocated the establishment of an Islamic Caliphate in the U.S. and provided the group inspiration to follow "Jihad [as] the only true 'anti-terrorist action' [,] a defensive battle against the aggression of theological imposters led by Zionism." Another document provided a blueprint for members to follow in order to blend into their communities and successfully carry out attacks.
The defendants reportedly used the internet to research possible targets, and conducted surveillance on synagogues, the Los Angeles International Airport and El Al, the Israeli consulate's office and U.S. military recruiting office and military bases. During a search of Washington's apartment, detectives discovered "Jihadi" literature, maps, bulletproof vests and addresses of area synagogues, according to authorities.
Patterson, an employee at Los Angeles International Airport, and Washington robbed gas stations to finance the planned attacks. According to officials, the plotters had discussed possible days to carry out an attack, including September 11 and the Jewish holiday Yom Kippur.
Authorities said Washington, Patterson and Samana all attended Jamat-E-Masijidul Islam mosque in Inglewood. In addition, Washington reportedly lived with Patterson, where he convinced him to join JIS.
In accordance with the plea agreement, James faces a maximum of 20 years and both Washington and Patterson face a maximum of 25 years in prison.
