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Terrorism charges conviction for man who took part in Benghazi attack

Jul 2, 2019

Mustafa al-Imam, a Libyan national approximately 48 years old, has been found guilty of terrorism charges for his part in the Sept. 11, 2012, attack on the U.S. Special Mission and Annex in Benghazi, Libya.

Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and U.S. government personnel Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty were killed in the attack at the Mission and the nearby Annex in Benghazi.

“We will never forget those we lost in Benghazi on Sept. 11, 2012 – Tyrone Woods, Sean Smith, Glen Doherty, and Ambassador Christopher Stevens,” Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers said. “And we will not rest in our pursuit of the terrorists who attacked our facilities and killed these four courageous Americans – they must be held accountable for their crimes.”

“Mustafa al-Imam was found guilty and will be held accountable for his role in the terrorist attack that destroyed the U.S. Mission in Benghazi,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jessie K. Liu,. “Four American heroes lost their lives and others were seriously wounded during that attack.”

“Mustafa Al-Imam has been found guilty for his role in a brutal terrorist attack on U.S. diplomatic facilities in Benghazi that killed four Americans,” Assistant Director Michael McGarrity of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division said.

“Mustafa al-Imam played a significant role in the 2012 Benghazi attack, one that ultimately claimed American lives,” said Assistant Director in Charge William F. Sweeney, Jr. of the FBI’s New York Field Office said. “While nothing will ever change the outcome of this horrific event, today’s verdict is a reminder that the safety of Americans – whether at home or abroad, civilian or otherwise – will always be our top priority.”

Al-Imam was captured in Libya on Oct. 29, 2017. He was found guilty of conspiracy to provide material support and resources to terrorists and maliciously destroying and injuring a dwelling and placing lives in jeopardy by a jury last month, on June 13, 2019. The former charge is punishable by up to a maximum of 15 years in prison, while the latter charge is punishable by up to a maximum of 20 years in prison. The jury failed to reach a verdict on 15 other charged counts, leading the court to declare a mistrial on June 17, 2019. The government has not yet announced whether it plans to retry Al-Imam on the remaining counts.

The trial began with opening statements on May 8, 2019, before a jury in the courtroom of Judge Christopher R. Cooper of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Over the next four weeks, the government presented testimony from 27 witnesses. The witnesses included those who were wounded in the attack, as well as others who survived the attacks.

This case was investigated by the FBI’s New York Field Office with substantial assistance from various other government agencies, including the Department of Defense and the two victim agencies, the CIA and the Department of State.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Cummings and Karen Seifert of the National Security Section of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia with assistance from Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas Coleman and Jolie Zimmerman, Paralegal Specialist Donna Galindo, detailed Paralegal Specialist Ashley Davis, Intelligence Research Special Dustin Powell, contract Document Management Analyst Michael Watts, Victim-Witness Advocates Yvonne Bryant, Tonya Jones, Laverne Perry and Wanda Queen, and Litigation Technology Chief Leif Hickling.

Earlier stages of the prosecution were handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael DiLorenzo and former Assistant U.S. Attorneys Opher Shweiki and Julieanne Himelstein.

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