From the Los Angeles Times
Man sentenced to 22 years in L.A.-area terror plot
Levar
Washington, a member of the radical Islamic organization JIS, pleaded
guilty last year to conspiring to attack military sites and synagogues.
By H.G. Reza
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
1:25 PM PDT, June 23, 2008
A man who planned attacks on military installations and synagogues in
the Los Angeles area for an Islamic terrorist cell was sentenced to 22
years in federal prison today for conspiring to wage war against the
United States.
Levar Washington told a federal judge in Santa Ana that cell members
"flirted with the possibility" of attacking targets but no longer
believe "a military solution is possible" because "it belies reality."
Washington, a convert to Islam, and three other defendants were members
of Jam'iyyat Ul-Islam Is-Saheeh, a radical Islamic organization formed
in prison by cell leader Kevin James. The group is better known as JIS.
Its members came to law enforcement's attention in 2005 when Washington
and another cell member robbed about a dozen gas stations in the Los
Angeles area over about a month's time. When authorities searched
Washington's apartment they found plans for attacks against military
facilities, synagogues and Israeli offices.
Washington told the court that the group acted out of opposition to
U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East and they chose gas stations to
rob because oil is a political symbol.
Washington is the first member of the group to be sentenced. He pleaded
guilty in December.
Copyright 2008 Los Angeles Times
