Three Convicted of Conspiracy to Aid Terrorists

March 4, 2004

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Three American Muslims were convicted Thursday of conspiracy to aid a terrorist organization.

Masoud Khan, 34, of Gaithersburg, Md., was found guilty of the most serious charges, including conspiracy to levy war against the United States and conspiracy to provide material support to Lashkar-e-Taiba (search), a militant group seeking to drive India from the disputed Kashmir region.

Seifullah Chapman, 31, of Alexandria, Va., and Hammad Abdur-Raheem, 35, of Falls Church, Va., were also convicted on conspiracy counts.

Prosecutors said the men used paintball (search) games near Fredericksburg, Va., to prepare for holy war against India and other nations with whom the United States is at peace.

U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema said the concept of "deliberate ignorance" is one the law does not permit.

But she found the defendants not guilty of firearms charges.

Sentencing is scheduled for June 4 for Khan and Abdur-raheem and June 11 for Chapman.

Fox News' Anna Stolley and The Associated Press contributed to this report .

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,113310,00.html