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No Appeal for Millennium Bomber’s Sentence

No Appeal for Millennium Bomber’s Sentence

No Appeal for Millennium Bomber’s Sentence

On November 28th, 2012, it was announced that Ahmed Ressam, also known as the “Millennium Bomber”, would not be appealing his sentence for his role in a failed plot to bomb Los Angeles International Airport on New Year’s Eve in 1999. In this article, we will take a closer look at the Millennium Bomber’s case, his sentence, and the decision to not appeal.

The Plan

Ahmed Ressam, an Algerian citizen, arrived in the United States from Canada on December 14th, 1999. He was carrying bomb-making materials and planned to carry out an attack on Los Angeles International Airport on New Year’s Eve.

However, Ressam was caught at the border when a customs agent became suspicious of his behavior. A subsequent search of his vehicle revealed the bomb-making materials, and Ressam was arrested.

The Sentence

In 2001, Ressam was convicted in federal court on multiple charges, including attempted terrorism and explosives smuggling. He was sentenced to 22 years in prison.

At the time, the sentence was the harshest ever given for a terrorism-related conviction in the United States. However, the sentence was later increased to 37 years after an appeals court ruled that the original sentence was too lenient.

No Appeal

On November 28th, 2012, it was announced that Ressam would not be appealing his sentence. Ressam’s lawyer cited his client’s desire to move on from the case and his belief that an appeal would be unsuccessful.

The decision to not appeal Ressam’s sentence was met with mixed reactions. Some argued that the sentence was fitting given the severity of the plot, while others believed that the sentence was too harsh and that Ressam should have a chance at freedom.

Impact on Terrorism Prevention

The case of the Millennium Bomber had a significant impact on terrorism prevention in the United States. The failed plot, and the subsequent arrest and prosecution of Ressam, served as a wake-up call for law enforcement agencies and policymakers.

In the years following Ressam’s arrest, the United States government implemented numerous security measures to prevent similar attacks. These measures included increased border security and enhanced screening procedures for airline passengers.

Conclusion

Ahmed Ressam, the Millennium Bomber, will not be appealing his sentence for his role in a failed plot to bomb Los Angeles International Airport. Ressam’s case served as a reminder of the ongoing threat of terrorism in the United States and prompted increased efforts to prevent similar attacks in the future. While the decision to not appeal may be controversial, it is a reminder that the consequences of attempted terrorism in the United States are severe and far-reaching.


On November 28, 2012, US Attorney Jenny A Durkan stated the Department of Justice will not appeal the prison sentence of Ahmed Ressam, coined the “Millennium Bomber.”  He was convicted on April 6, 2001, and he was sentenced to 37 years in prison in October 2012.

U.S Attorney Durkan stated: The United States argued and believes that Mr. Ressam’s actions and his continued threat to public safety merited a sentence that would keep him incarcerated for life.  While the court decided otherwise, this 37-year sentence guarantees that he will remain in prison until he is over 60 years old, at which time he may be deported back to Algeria where additional charges and prison time may be imposed.”

Ressam was apprehended on December 14, 1999 when explosives were found in the trunk of his rental car as he tried to enter Port Angeles in Washington.  The boat was located on the ferry MV Coho out of Victoria, British Columbia, and Customers and Border Protection officers questioned Ressam after he appeared nervous.

Ressam provided some useful information to authorities when he faced a life sentence in 2001, but he stopped providing information in 2003 and discredited all of the information he told investigators before.  When he was sentenced last month, prosecutors asked for a life sentence because two prosecutions were dismissed after he failed to cooperate.

The court still ruled otherwise and sentenced Ressam to 37 years in prison.

U.S. Attorney Durkan praised the work of investigators who stopped the terrorist attack from happening in the first place: “We owe a debt of gratitude to the law enforcement personnel who disrupted the deadly plot.  We must also thank and recognize the tremendous efforts of the FBI and CBP agents who investigated and helped prosecute the case, the AUSAs, and federal defenders who worked tirelessly to obtain justice in a difficult case, and the court and court personnel who oversaw all phases of the case and conducted a complex trial in a far away city.”

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation