One Defendant Is A Former Guyana Official

Three years ago, two Muslim extremists were caught plotting to cause more mayhem than occurred on 9/11/2001 by "blowing up" JFK Airport in New York. One, Russell Defreitas, is a naturalized U.S. citizen who worked as a cargo handler at JFK. The other, Abdul Kadir, was once a member of Parliament in Guyana, where both are originally from.

The two were caught in 2007 when an informant infiltrated their plot and made secret recordings which were turned over to U.S. authorities, and that, says Defreitas' attorney Len Kamdang, says will exonerate his client. He says the two were framed by the informant.

Fox News reports that prosecutors will say Defreitas dreamt of striking one of the country's busiest airports, causing economic as well as psychological damage. He believed that the target was particularly attractive because it is named after one of the nations 'iconic' Presidents. Prosecutors say he sought out a militant Muslim group in Trinidad as well as Kadir to help him carry out the plot. According to court papers, Defreitas was recorded as saying: "To hit John F. Kennedy, wow. ... They love John F. Kennedy like he's the man. ... If you hit that, this whole country will be in mourning. It's like you can kill the man twice."

A third defendant pleaded guilty Tuesday. Abdel Nur, also from Guyana, said he provided material support for the accused terrorists. He and a fourth defendant, Kareem Ibrahim, offered protection and advice during a trip to Trinidad and Tobago in May of 2007.

All four were taken into custody in Trinidad in 2007, and fought extradition to the U.S. over a year before a judge ruled they could get a fair trial in America.

Nur will be sentenced August 5th and faces up to 15 years in prison. Ibrahim's case was separated when he went on a prison hunger strike and became ill. No court date has been set for him.

FMI: www.nysd.uscourts.gov