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Ohio Couple Pleads Guilty in Terror Funding Case

Deal allows Hor and Amera Akl to escape life sentences

By the Associated Press

Posted May 23, 2011 12:39 PM CDT

(AP) – An Ohio husband and wife pleaded guilty today to charges that they plotted to help finance a Mideast terrorist group, under a deal that spares them from potential life sentences. Hor and Amera Akl, dual citizens of the US and Lebanon, were arrested in June 2010 after authorities said an FBI informant provided them with cash that they were planning to hide in a vehicle to be shipped to Lebanon. They intended to conceal up to $1 million for Hezbollah, federal prosecutors said.

The Akls had previously pleaded not guilty to several counts carrying the possibility of life prison terms, prosecutors said. They pleaded guilty in Toledo to conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. Hor Akl now faces a sentence of a little more than seven years in prison, while his wife could receive up to four years. They remained free on bail after their pleas, and it was not immediately clear when they would be sentenced.

Hor and Amera Akl exit a federal court in Toledo.
Hor and Amera Akl exit a federal court in Toledo.   (YouTube)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 11 comments
Jeffrey-Lebowski
May 25, 2011 2:24 AM CDT
Send them to India when they finish their sentences here.
TheVEG
May 23, 2011 11:59 PM CDT
So are these two officially classified as terrorists?  Are they officially classified as terrorists now that they've plead guilty to terrorist related charges?  Were they officially classified as terrorists before the money was given to them?  Something doesn't jive with this story.  Especially if they're allowed to plea bargain for the sentences they received.  They should have had the book thrown at them.  Man, fuck these terrorists.  It also grinds My ass that we negotiated with terrorists (if they were officially classified before) since we're supposed to be..."We do not negotiate with terrorists".  It's this kind of crap that enables even more terrorists since they see what kind of slap on the wrist they're going to get as consequences for their actions.  I don't know if there's a specific law written down officially stating that "we do not negotiate with terrorists"; but if there is... Then the book outta be tossed at all those involved [prosecutors, defense attorneys, etc..etc..] that "negotiated" a plea bargain with these terrorists (if they were officially classified as such).  I'd take My chances on a jury or judge having seen all the evidence and convicting them (though there's no guarantee they'd have been convicted even though they plead guilty now) and then throwing the book at them.  So if there's a written law against negotiating with terrorists, with consequences if you do, then throw the book at those involved in the negotiation... If there isn't, then, whoops, My bad for the rant...and.. we should make sure it's properly written out with as little room for loopholes as possible; with consequences. We've got the Patriot Act and it's just been extended...any contacts will eventually be rooted out.  So there is no need to negotiate with terrorists (if they're officially classified as such) in any way, shape, or form, no matter how small...and they need to get the message that we won't. Something still doesn't jive with this story.
Buckshot
May 23, 2011 2:52 PM CDT
Death by dragging behind a pickup truck would be to fast and humane for these sleazy traitors. 

Copyright 2013 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.

 

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