One of the men busted in a 2015 Brooklyn terror plot — which included joining ISIS, killing President Obama and bombing Coney Island — took a plea deal Thursday in exchange for up to 45 years off his sentence.
Akhror Saidakhmetov, 21, is now facing a maximum of 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to provide material support, including services and personnel, to a foreign terrorist organization.
He had been originally facing up to 60 years behind bars after being indicted on four charges, including conspiracy to use a firearm for terrorist activity and travel document fraud.
The bloodthirsty extremist was arrested at JFK Airport in Feb. 2015 as he attempted to board a flight to Istanbul. Authorities said at the time that he and at least five others planned to join the Islamic State and wage jihad in either the US or overseas.
The group had been plotting attacks against President Obama and in Brooklyn, including the planting of a bomb on Coney Island, according to law enforcement officials.
“[Saidakhmetov] is a confused and isolated 21-year-old kid who fell into a situation where he was taken advantage of,” his lawyer, Adam Perlmutter, told reporters after the sentencing in Brooklyn Federal Court on Thursday.
Saidakhmetov, originally from Kazakhstan, was allegedly in cahoots with Adburasul Juraboev, of Uzbekistan, and fellow Uzbeki natives Arbor Habibov and Azizjon Rakhmatov. Authorities said his terror buddies ultimately helped fund his mission to join ISIS and wage jihad.
Wearing tan scrubs and sporting scruffy facial hair, Saidakhmetov slowly described his crimes with help from an interpreter.
“Between August of 2014 and February 2015, we had a conspiracy with others regarding [the conspiracy charge],” he said. “I was a member of that conspiracy and I know this was illegal. Between us, we had a conspiracy to provide material support to ISIL. During this conspiracy, I knew ISIL is considered a terrorist organization by the Department of State of the United States of America. It happened in Brooklyn and in other places.”
When asked by Judge William F. Kuntz II what he thought a terrorist organization is composed of, Saidakhmetov simply said: “Scaring civilians.”
“How?” Kuntz asked, causing Saidakhmetov to quickly lean in for a response.
But before he could utter a word, the alleged terrorist’s defense team abruptly muted his mic and huddled with him to discuss his answer.
After several minutes, he told a confused Kuntz: “Committing violent acts against the people.”
Saidakhmetov’s decision to take the plea deal on Thursday came despite his longstanding claims of innocence and refusal to cooperate with authorities. But his lawyer insisted it was the right thing to do.
“If he was found guilty at trial, he would face up to 60 years,” Perlmutter said after the proceedings. “This plea deal places his ceiling at 15 years, and also allows him to drop three counts.”
Under the terms of his plea deal, Saidakhmetov is not allowed to file an appeal. In addition to prison time, he is facing a maximum fine of $250,000 and a maximum supervised release sentence of life.
