Kevin James (alleged terrorist)

Infobox actor
name = Kevin James


caption = James in Las Vegas, Nevada, November 2007
birthname = Kevin George Knipfing
birthdate = birth date and age|1965|4|26
birthplace = Mineola, New York, USA
deathdate =
deathplace =
yearsactive = 1991-present
website = http://www.kevinjames.tv/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, a Muslim convert, was accused of founding a radical Islamic group called J.I.S (Jam’iyyat Ul-Islam Is-Saheeh, Arabic for "Assembly of Authentic Islam") from his cell in Folsom Prison in California, and of recruiting fellow inmates to join his mission to kill infidels. [cite press release|url=http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2005/August/05_crm_453.html|title=Four Men Indicted on Terrorism Charges Related to Conspiracy to Attack Military Facilities, Other Targets|date=31 August 2006|publisher=Department of Justice|accessdate=2006-10-17]

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. [cite press release|url=http://www.usdoj.gov/ag/speeches/2005/ag_speech_050831.html|date=31 August 2005|title=Prepared Remarks of Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales at the California Terrorism Indictment Press Conference|publisher=Department of Justice|accessdate=2006-10-17]

The terrorism case arose after police in Torrance arrested two of the men on 5 July in connection with armed robberies.cite news|url=http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/08/31/state/n143135D24.DTL|title=Four indicted in alleged terrorist plot against LA-area targets|first=Jeremiah|last=Marquez|coauthors=Mark Sherman|date=1 September 2005|accessdate=2006-10-17|publisher=SF Gate]

The men are due to go on trial in October 2006 after over a year of being held in jail. [cite news|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E01E0D8153FF93BA25753C1A9639C8B63&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fSubjects%2fT%2fTerrorism| title=National Briefing - West: California: Trial Date Set In Suspected Bomb Plot|date=18 October 2005|accessdate=2006-10-17|publisher=New York Times]

Robert Mueller mentioned the incident in a "Major Executive Speech" in June 2006 on the day that the Miami bomb plot to attack the Sears Tower was announced.cite press release| title = Remarks Prepared for Delivery by Director Robert S. Mueller, III | url = http://www.fbi.gov/pressrel/speeches/mueller062306.htm | author = Robert S. Mueller, III | work = FBI Major Executive Speeches | publisher=FBI|date = 23 June 2006|accessdate=2006-10-17] The Deputy Assistant Director of the FBI outlined the case in his congressional testimony in September 2006. [cite press release|url=http://www.fbi.gov/congress/congress06/vanduyn091906.htm|title=Statement of Donald Van Duyn Deputy Assistant Director, Counterterrorism Division Federal Bureau of InvestigationBefore the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and Related Agencies|date=19 September 2006|publisher=FBI|author=Donald Van Duyn|accessdate=2006-10-17]

The suspects

* Kevin James, 29, Muslim convert, a U.S. national, allegedly 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 Washington, 25, Muslim convert, a U.S. national; arrested 5 July for armed robbery.
* Gregory Patterson, 21, Muslim convert, a U.S. national; purchased a .223-caliber rifle and arrested 5 July for armed robbery.
* Hammad Samana, 21, born Muslim, a lawful permanent U.S. resident originally from Pakistan; allegedly trained with firearms. Arrested on 2 August.

Conviction

On 14 December, Kevin James pled guilty to "conspiracy to levy war against the United States through terrorism" and faces up to 20 years in federal prison. Levar Washington also pled guilty to the same in addition to a weapons charge and could get 25.

Gregory Patterson is expected to accept a plea deal, and Hammad Samana is currently undergoing psychiatric treatment.cite news|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/78189|title=Thwarting Terror|publisher=Newsweek|first=Andrew|last=Murr|date=15 December 2007|accessdate=2007-12-16]

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." 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.

References