A Disappointing Conclusion

A few weeks ago Judge Watson accepted a new plea agreement that was entered into by the United States and Ali Aladimi. After all the talk of supporting terrorism and claims by the government that at trial Ali could get more than a twenty year sentence... not to mention the constant assertion by the feds that Mr. Aladimi is a flight risk it turns out that he will serve about one more year, then be transfered to a halfway house for another year and then be on probation until the end of his sentence. The plea agreement calls for a total of 97 months, most of which has already been served in county jails waiting for trial or bail, neither of which ever came.

In the agreement Ali has admitted to certain facts. Considering that a previous agreement was overturned last year and that the government was prepared to offer no evidence other than the testimony of convicted felons to prove their case, and Ali's adament denial of guilt at all times and in all circumstances prior to entering the plea I find it hard to believe that these admissions bear very much resemblance to the truth. We have reached a point where a huge number of convictions in federal and state cases are negotiated settlements not unlike in civil cases. But the truth should not and cannot be negotiated. We have all been cheated. None of us really knows what Ali did or didn't do. Was he really the ring leader of a big meth-amphetamine operation? Did he really send money to overseas terrorist organizations? Was he simply an aggressive businessman who was targeted by the Ashcroft Justice Department in the wake of 9/11 because of his national origin and religion? Was he truly innocent of all charges? I know what I believe but I may never actually know because none of the evidence has come out in a trial.

Nearly every news article about this case contained the word "terrorism" in it's body if not headline. None of the charges Ali pled guilty to have anything to do with terrorism. Furthermore the plea agreement prohibits the U.S. from pursuing any charges for actions prior to the agreement that the investigators had any knowledge of. So there have been no terrorism charges and there never will be. Where is the Dayton Daily News headline: "Beavercreek Man is NOT a Terrorist."? I won't be holding my breath. Here are two examples of the type of lackluster and biased coverage this case has received from the Cincinnati Enquirer and Dayton Daily News respectively.

More details to come.