Millennium Plot Sentencing Set

Ahmed Ressam Convicted Of Planning To Bomb L.A. Airport In 2000

(AP) 
The Algerian national was convicted in April 2001 of nine charges, including smuggling and terrorist conspiracy, in what investigators described as an unsuccessful plot to bomb Los Angeles International Airport on Jan. 1, 2000.

Facing up to 130 years in prison, he began to talk, and prosecutors and defense lawyers agree he provided extensive information about terror camps in Afghanistan. But in 2003, defense lawyers called off further talks, saying he his mental state had deteriorated because of long periods of solitary confinement.

His sentencing has been repeatedly delayed to ensure his cooperation in other cases.

Prosecutors now say that without his continued help, they may have to drop terrorism charges against two other suspects in the bomb plot. Abu Doha and Samir Ait Mohamed are awaiting extradition to the United States — Doha in Britain, Mohamed in Canada.

Ressam's testimony helped convict Mokhtar Haouari of supplying fake identification and cash for the millennium bomb plot. Haouari was sentenced in New York to 24 years in prison.

In December 2002, Ressam met with German justice officials who questioned him about al Qaeda for the trial of a Moroccan charged with supporting the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist hijackers. Mounir el Motassadeq was convicted in February 2003 and sentenced to 15 years in prison.