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2005 Los Angeles bomb plot

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The 2005 Los Angeles bomb plot was a 2005 effort by a group of ex-convicts calling themselves Jamiyyat Ul-Islam Is-Saheeh to bomb several military bases, a number of synagogues, and an Israeli consulate in California.[1][2]

On 31 August 2005, Kevin James and three other men were indicted on terrorism charges related to conspiracy to attack military facilities in the Los Angeles area and of attempting to fund their campaign by robbing gas stations in Southern California over the previous three months. Kevin James was accused of founding a radical Islamic group called J.I.S (Jam’iyyat Ul-Islam Is-Saheeh جمعية الإسلام الصحيح, Arabic for "Assembly of Authentic Islam") from his cell in Folsom Prison in California, and of recruiting fellow inmates to join his mission to target for violent attack so-called enemies of Islam or "infidels".[3]

The announcement of the arrests was made by the Attorney-General Alberto Gonzales in the presence of the director of the FBI Robert Mueller in Washington D.C.[4] Robert Mueller mentioned the incident in a "Major Executive Speech" in June 2006 on the day that the 2006 Sears Tower plot was announced.[5] The Deputy Assistant Director of the FBI outlined the case in his congressional testimony in September 2006.[6]

Background

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See also: Islam and antisemitism and Terrorism in the United States

The plot is one in a series of terrorist-related attacks and failed attacks by Muslims on military installations in the United States, including the 2009 New York terrorism plot, the 2007 Fort Dix attack plot, the 2009 Little Rock recruiting office shooting, and the September 11 attacks on the Pentagon.

Suspects

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  • Kevin Lamar James, founded J.I.S. (Jam’iyyat Ul-Islam Is-Saheeh) in 2004 while in prison, recruiting fellow inmates, and then others after his release in December 2004.
  • Levar Haney Washington, Muslim convert, a U.S. national; arrested 5 July for armed robbery.
  • Gregory Vernon Patterson, a U.S. national; purchased a .223-caliber rifle and arrested 5 July for armed robbery.
  • Hammad Riaz Samana, a lawful permanent U.S. resident originally from Pakistan; allegedly trained with firearms; arrested 2 August.[1]

Several of the suspects formed a group called Jam’iyyat Ul-Islam Is-Saheeh from inside a California state prison[7] About a month later, Washington was released from prison and recruited Patterson and Samana, neither of whom had a criminal record, at an Inglewood mosque.

Conviction

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On 14 December 2007, Kevin James pleaded guilty to "conspiracy to levy war against the United States through terrorism" and was sentenced to 16 years in federal prison[8]. Levar Washington also pleaded guilty to the same charges plus an additional weapons charge and was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison[9].

Gregory Patterson pled guilty to the same conspiracy and weapons charges as Washington and was sentenced to just over 12.5 years in federal prison[9]. Hammad Samana was initially found to be unfit to stand trial and underwent psychiatric treatment. However, in 2009, he was subsequently charged and sentenced to just under 6 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to levy war against the U. S government through terrorism.[10]

In an interview with the prosecutor, the reporter remarked that "the cell appears to have been remarkably indiscreet about committing plans to paper. They even left the text of a press release Mr. James had written for use once they committed a successful attack. And one of the ringleaders, James, was in prison the whole time."[10] Documents such as these formed the basis of the evidence, since the group hadn't gotten to the point of gathering materials to make explosives.

Aftermath

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Gregory Patterson served roughly 8 years of his sentenced and was released from a federal halfway house in Long Beach, California on September 22, 2016. Hammad Samana was released from FCI Englewood in Littleton, Colorado on August, 30, 2010. He was then taken into custody by Immigration, Customs and Enforcement before being deported to Pakistan in November 2010.[11]

A 2011 NPR report claimed both Kevin James (who legally changed his name to Ahmed Binyamin Alasiri) and Levar Washington were both imprisoned in the highly restrictive Communication Management Unit.[12]

James was released from federal custody in September 2019. While on federal supervised release in Long Beach, California, he sold 1.7 kilograms (3.4 pounds) methamphetamine to a buyer over three meetings. He was indicted on one count of distributing methamphetamine and was sentenced to over 15 years in prison. He is currently incarcerated at FCI Tucson in Tucson, Arizona and is projected to be released from prison on July 27, 2031[13].

Washington was initially set for release from federal custody in September 2024. In 2017, he was sentenced to an additional 6 years in federal prison after he stabbed a fellow inmate with a "shank" 13 to 15 times while they were both housed in USP Allenwood in Pennsylvania.[14] In 2022, Washington was sentenced to a further term of over 13 years to run consecutively to both other sentences after stabbed a correctional officer with an 11-inch shank at USP Pollock in Louisiana. Washington is currently serving his sentences at ADX Florence, the federal supermax prison in Florence, Colorado. His projected release date is February 3, 2043[15].

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Marquez, Jeremiah (September 1, 2005). "Four indicted in alleged terrorist plot against LA-area targets". SFGate.com. Archived from the original on August 15, 2006.
  2. ^ "Four charged with hatching prison terror plot". NBC News. August 31, 2005. Archived from the original on October 29, 2018. Retrieved October 29, 2018.
  3. ^ "Four Men Indicted on Terrorism Charges Related to Conspiracy to Attack Military Facilities, Other Targets" (Press release). Department of Justice. August 31, 2006. Archived from the original on May 30, 2009. Retrieved October 17, 2006.
  4. ^ "Prepared Remarks of Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales at the California Terrorism Indictment Press Conference" (Press release). Department of Justice. August 31, 2005. Archived from the original on October 4, 2006.
  5. ^ Robert S. Mueller, III (June 23, 2006). "Remarks Prepared for Delivery by Director Robert S. Mueller, III". FBI Major Executive Speeches (Press release). FBI. Archived from the original on May 12, 2009. Retrieved October 17, 2006.
  6. ^ Donald Van Duyn (September 19, 2006). "Statement of Donald Van Duyn Deputy Assistant Director, Counterterrorism Division Federal Bureau of Investigation Before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and Related Agencies" (Press release). FBI. Archived from the original on October 3, 2006.
  7. ^ New York Times, Imams Reject Talk That Islam Radicalizes Inmates Archived 2018-09-24 at the Wayback Machine, DANIEL J. WAKIN, May 23, 2009.
  8. ^ "Ex-gang member jailed over Calif. terror plot". NBC News. March 7, 2009. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
  9. ^ a b "#08-634: Second Man Involved in Domestic Terrorism Plot Targeting Military, Jewish Facilities Sentenced to Prison (2008-07-21)". www.justice.gov. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
  10. ^ a b Murr, Andrew (December 15, 2007). "Thwarting Terror". Newsweek. Archived from the original on October 9, 2008. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  11. ^ "Archived: ICE removes terrorist to Pakistan | ICE". www.ice.gov. November 22, 2010. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
  12. ^ DATA & GRAPHICS: Population Of The Communications Management Units Archived 2011-03-07 at the Wayback Machine, Margot Williams and Alyson Hurt, NPR, 3-3-11, retrieved 2011 03 04 from npr.org
  13. ^ "Central District of California | Convicted Terrorist Sentenced to Over 15 Years in Federal Prison for Selling Pounds of Methamphetamine While on Supervised Release | United States Department of Justice". www.justice.gov. March 28, 2022. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
  14. ^ "Middle District of Pennsylvania | Inmate Sentenced To Six Years For Assault With Dangerous Weapon | United States Department of Justice". www.justice.gov. May 15, 2017. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
  15. ^ "Western District of Louisiana | Two Defendants Sentenced in U.S. District Court | United States Department of Justice". www.justice.gov. February 18, 2022. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
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