The Cellar - View Single Post - Bush invalidates Fifth Ammendment by Executive Order

yesman065 · 07-22-2007, 09:17 PM

HOUSTON (AP) -- A U.S. citizen convicted of receiving training at a terrorist camp alongside al-Qaida members in his efforts to help overthrow the Somali government was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison.

Daniel Joseph Maldonado, 28, a Muslim convert also known as Daniel Aljughaifi and Abu Mohammed, also was fined $1,000.

Maldonado admitted to traveling in December to a terrorist camp in Somalia, where he was trained to use firearms and explosives in an effort to help a group called the Islamic Courts Union topple the government and install an Islamic state. Members of al-Qaida were present at the camp.

Maldonado was captured by the Kenyan military while trying to flee Somalia in January and brought back to the United States in February.

Ten years was the maximum prison sentence Maldonado could have received. He faced a fine of up to $250,000.

Federal prosecutor Gary Cobe said after the hearing that the sentence was just.

"We're fighting a war against terrorism. We need to send a message that anyone who gets involved with terrorism will pay the price," he said.

"He wants it to be known he never intended to hurt Americans," Newton said.

Maldonado, who grew up in Pelham, N.H., lived in Houston for four months in 2005 before moving with his wife and three children to Cairo, Egypt, then Somalia. Just before his arrest as he and his family tried to leave Somalia and go to Kenya, they became separated. His wife, Tamekia Cunningham, later died of malaria. His three children are being cared for by his parents in New Hampshire.

Defense attorneys described Maldonado as a man who, driven by anti-Muslim sentiment in America after the Sept. 11 attacks, moved away with his family so they could live in peace as Muslims.

-> -> 10 years is the maximum for training to be a terrorist, yet they can seize your assets if they SUSPECT you are helping terrorists. That makes NO sense.

07-22-2007, 09:17 PM	#8
yesman065 Banned - Self Imposed Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1,847	HOUSTON (AP) -- A U.S. citizen convicted of receiving training at a terrorist camp alongside al-Qaida members in his efforts to help overthrow the Somali government was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison. Daniel Joseph Maldonado, 28, a Muslim convert also known as Daniel Aljughaifi and Abu Mohammed, also was fined $1,000. Maldonado admitted to traveling in December to a terrorist camp in Somalia, where he was trained to use firearms and explosives in an effort to help a group called the Islamic Courts Union topple the government and install an Islamic state. Members of al-Qaida were present at the camp. Maldonado was captured by the Kenyan military while trying to flee Somalia in January and brought back to the United States in February. Ten years was the maximum prison sentence Maldonado could have received. He faced a fine of up to $250,000. Federal prosecutor Gary Cobe said after the hearing that the sentence was just. "We're fighting a war against terrorism. We need to send a message that anyone who gets involved with terrorism will pay the price," he said. "He wants it to be known he never intended to hurt Americans," Newton said. Maldonado, who grew up in Pelham, N.H., lived in Houston for four months in 2005 before moving with his wife and three children to Cairo, Egypt, then Somalia. Just before his arrest as he and his family tried to leave Somalia and go to Kenya, they became separated. His wife, Tamekia Cunningham, later died of malaria. His three children are being cared for by his parents in New Hampshire. Defense attorneys described Maldonado as a man who, driven by anti-Muslim sentiment in America after the Sept. 11 attacks, moved away with his family so they could live in peace as Muslims. -> -> 10 years is the maximum for training to be a terrorist, yet they can seize your assets if they *SUSPECT* you are helping terrorists. That makes NO sense.