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Padilla Sentenced to 17 Years

Federal prosecutors will appeal for more prison time

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 22, 2008 12:45 PM CST
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(Newser) – A federal judge sentenced Jose Padilla to 17 years and 4 months today following his conviction for conspiring to commit murder and otherwise aid Islamic terrorists around the world, the Miami Herald reports. Although the court invoked “terrorism enhancement” to lengthen the sentences of Padilla and his two co-conspirators, prosecutors, who had sought life for Padilla, said they would appeal.

Padilla, 37, is an American citizen who trained with al-Qaeda and was designated an enemy combatant. He became a symbol of the Bush administration’s treatment of terrorism suspects following accusations that he had plotted to execute a “dirty bomb” attack inside the US. He was never charged with that offense, and the courts focused on his participation in a terror network.

U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke, left, and defendants Adham Amin Hassoun, left, Jose Padilla, center, and Kifah Wael Jayyousi, right, during sentencing deliberations in Miami Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008. Judge Cooke sentenced Jose Padilla to 17 years and 4 months. Hassoun to 15 years and 8 months and Jayyousi...
U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke, left, and defendants Adham Amin Hassoun, left, Jose Padilla, center, and Kifah Wael Jayyousi, right, during sentencing deliberations in Miami Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008....   (Associated Press)
In this Jan. 5, 2006, file photo, Jose Padilla, center, is escorted by federal marshals on his arrival in Miami. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)
In this Jan. 5, 2006, file photo, Jose Padilla, center, is escorted by federal marshals on his arrival in Miami. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)   (Associated Press)
Defendants Jose Padilla and Kifah Wael Jayyousi, left, during sentencing deliberations in Miami Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008. Padilla was sentenced by Federal Judge Marcia Cooke on Tuesday Jan. 22, 2008, to 17 years and four months for conspiring to support Islamic extremist around the world. (AP Photo/Shirley Henderson)
Defendants Jose Padilla and Kifah Wael Jayyousi, left, during sentencing deliberations in Miami Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008. Padilla was sentenced by Federal Judge Marcia Cooke on Tuesday Jan. 22, 2008, to...   (Associated Press)
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More on the ruling

Judge asserted Padilla's harsh detention was a factor in sentence length
Bloomberg

Padilla had been held in a military brig for more than 3 years
New York Times

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