Be good when they bring back capital punishment.or the guillotine.
B http://www.gsnmagazine.com/node/23263?c=federal_agencies_legislative Radicalized Illinois man gets 28 years for bomb plot Tue, 2011-05-10 10:02 AM By: Mark Rockwell <http://www.gsnmagazine.com/author/21449/mark_rockwell> Michael Finton An Illinois man charged with trying to set off what he thought was a truckload of explosives in front a federal court house pleaded guilty on May 9 to attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction. Michael Finton, also known as "Talib Islam," was sentenced to 28 years in federal prison for trying to blow up the Paul Findley Federal Building and Courthouse in Springfield, IL in September of 2009. U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock's (R-IL) office was also targeted in the plot. His plan was derailed by federal joint terrorism agents. Finton was reportedly an admirer of radical Islamist Anwar Al-Awlaki, who is notorious for recruiting westerners into his cause. Fenton had also reportedly converted to Islam during a 1995-2000 stint in prison for aggravated assault and aggravated robbery and had traveled to Saudi Arabia in 2008. According to the plea agreement, Finton drove from his hometown of Decatur, IL to Springfield, where he took possession of a truck that he thought contained a ton of explosives -- enough, he believed, to level the target. The explosive device, however, was a harmless dummy put in place by federal agents. Finton drove the truck to the federal building and parked across the street from Rep. Schock's office. The agreement said Finton activated a timer connected to the device and got into a vehicle with an undercover law enforcement agent whom he thought was associated with Al Qaeda. Finton used a cell phone to attempt to remotely detonate the fake bomb after he and the agent had driven a safe distance away, according to the agreement. Before the September incident, court documents show Finton met with an undercover law enforcement officer who he believed was associated with Al Qaeda. During those meetings, they said Finton proposed his cold-blooded attack. In July, 2009, the Justice Department said Finton originally proposed targeting the Springfield federal courthouse in a one-two punch using two vehicle-borne bombs. The first bomb, it said, would inflict initial damage and the second would take out emergency responders. At the time, said the agency, Finton also suggested that if the bomb was big enough it might also "take out" the office of the congressman across the street from the federal building. Finton has been in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service since his arrest on Sept. 23, 2009. "Michael Finton is one of a number of young Americans over the past two years who, under the influence of a radical and violent ideology, have sought to carry out acts of terrorism in the United States," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Hinnen in a May 9 statement. "Although a coordinated undercover law enforcement investigation thwarted Mr. Finton's plot to destroy the federal courthouse in Springfield, this case underscores the need to remain vigilant against the threat posed by homegrown extremism." "Michael Finton tried to bomb our federal courthouse with the intent to kill innocent civilians, committed public servants and dedicated first responders," said U.S. Attorney Lewis. "This terrible attempt was prevented through the excellent investigative work of the Springfield FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force and assisting law enforcement agencies." 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