Padilla Receives 17-Year Prison Sentence

Former U.S. “dirty bomb” suspect Jose Padilla received a 17-year prison sentence today in Miami for conspiring to commit terrorist acts, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, Aug. 17, 2007).

Prosecutors had sought a life sentence, but U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke eased the time, partly because of Padilla’s unorthodox handling by U.S. officials following his 2002 arrest.

Initially, officials said the 37-year-old Padilla had sought to detonate a radiological weapon in the United States, but they later dropped that allegation.  Nevertheless, he was held as an “enemy combatant” for 3 1/2 years and denied access to legal counsel.  Eventually moved to the civil justice system, Padilla was convicted of terrorism charges last August.

“I do find that the conditions were so harsh for Mr. Padilla ... they warrant consideration in the sentencing in this case," Cooke said.  She accepted defense arguments that he had been subjected to "harsh conditions" and "extreme environmental stresses" during his detention.

Two other men received lesser sentences today in related convictions.  Cooke gave Padilla recruiter Adham Anin Hassoun more than 15 years and Kifah Wael Jayyousi more than 12 years.  The three men helped to provide support for al-Qaeda and other Islamic radicals as part of a North American cell, prosecutors said (Curt Anderson, Associated Press/Washington Post, Jan. 22).

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