A Queens imam accused of tipping off confessed terror plotter Najibullah Zazi was sentenced to “time served” today in Brooklyn federal court.
Ahmad Afzali pleaded guilty in March to lying to authorities as part of a plea deal to avoid serious jail time.
The judge ruled today that Afzali will not have to serve any additional prison time beyond what he has already served.
Afzali has agreed to leave the country within 90 days to avoid deportation to his native Afghanistan, but told reporters he does not know where he will go.
“The sad part is, is that I have to say goodbye to the only country that I know,” said Afzali. “My kids were born here, my family lives here. But it’s going to be a tough transition, a tough trip. It’s not going to be easy.”
Prosecutors say Afzali told Zazi and his father that the two were under surveillance, and then lied to the FBI about doing so.
Zazi pleaded guilty to plotting an attack on the city’s subway system and is awaiting sentencing in June.
An emotional Afzali told the judge today, “It was never my intention to help those idiots.”
“I don’t have nothing good to say. He’s an idiot for what he’s trying to do,” said Afzali about Zazi. “Not only he gives himself hardship, and his family, to a certain degree he’s making it hard for every other Muslim living in America.”
Two other men have pleaded not guilty in the case. Another suspect was recently arrested in Pakistan.
(Source: NY1)