Dad in father-son terror case pleads guilty to minor charge

Out in lettuce country, Lodi, California, there is news again about the father-son terror duo.

From AP:

A Lodi ice cream vendor pleaded guilty Wednesday to a lesser charge of trying to smuggle cash to Pakistan rather than be retried on allegations that he lied to the FBI about his son’s attendance at a terrorist training camp.

Umer Hayat, 48, was convicted of lying to customs agents about more than $28,000 he and family members were trying to carry on a flight out of the country three years ago. In exchange, prosecutors agreed to drop charges that he lied to the FBI and to recommend he serve no more jail time after spending nearly a year in custody.

There was speculation that the cash was going to terror groups in Pakistan.

Hayat’s son, Hamid Hayat, 23, faces at least 30 years in prison for supporting terrorism by attending an al-Qaida training camp in Pakistan in 2003 and lying to the FBI. His sentencing was postponed indefinitely.

Umer Hayat’s first trial ended in April in a mistrial after the jury deadlocked in his case. He had been scheduled to be retried Monday and would likely have faced only a few additional months behind bars if convicted of the two lying charges, Scott said. He remains under house arrest until his Aug. 18 sentencing.

So it appears that the old man won't be going to prison. And a golden opportunity is missed: a Hollywood update of that great father-son prison movie, In The Name Of The Father. Daniel Day-Lewis could've appeared in this one too.

Third Wave Dave had a post on this story many hours ago, and he's not very happy with the plea deal.

Technorati tags: Daniel Day-Lewis Lodi Hayat California Pakistan Terrorism اسلامی