A man was sentenced to 70 months in prison today for his role in a domestic terrorism plot to wage war on the United States by attacking Jewish synagogues and military bases.

Hammad Riaz Samana is the fourth member of Jami’yyat Ul-Islam Is-Shaheeh, or JIS, a prison-founded group that wanted to make a political statement that also had plans to attack the Israeli consulate in Los Angeles and El Al Israel Airlines at the Los Angeles International Airport.

Samana was 21 when he was charged in the case in July 2005, along with the cell’s mastermind, Kevin James, and members Levar Haley Washington and Gregory Patterson.

The group committed armed robberies of 11 gas stations, including two in Fullerton, to buy weapons and gear for the attacks. Authorities said gas stations were chosen as targets because of the symbolism of the oil.

Samana had a smaller role in the plot, and conducted computer research on the terrorism targets, and was the getaway driver for one of the armed robberies, according to U.S. District Judge Cormac Carney at today’s sentencing hearing.

Carney acknowledged he was imposing a substantially lighter sentence on Samana than those given to the other men.

Washington is serving 264 months in prison, while James was sentenced to 192 months and Patterson was sentenced to 151 months, Carney said.

But Samana warranted a lighter sentence because he suffered from mental health issues, the judge said. Samana suffered from schizophrenia at the time of the crime.

“In light of Samana’s mental health issues at the time of the offense, such a disparity is warranted and justified,” Carney said.

Samana pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of conspiracy.

(Source: Orange County Register)