The enemy within

[Sarge]

Va. Jihad Activist Pleads Guilty

Royer Denies Intending to Harm Americans

By Jerry Markon

Washington Post Staff Writer

Friday, January 16, 2004; 3:00 PM

A key member of an alleged Virginia jihad network pleaded guilty to federal weapons and explosives charges today, denying that he intended to harm Americans but acknowledging that he and his co-defendants had sought to fight on behalf of Muslim causes abroad.

Randall Todd Royer, 30, of Falls Church, entered his surprise plea in U.S. District Court in Alexandria. He faces at least 20 years in prison when he is sentenced April 9. Another of the 11 men originally charged in the case, Ibrahim Ahmed al-Hamdi, 26, of Alexandria, pleaded guilty to similar charges and faces at least 15 years in prison.

A St. Louis native who became an activist for Muslim causes, Royer was at the center of the government's case against a group of men who played paintball in the Virginia countryside to prepare for jihad training that could have targeted the United States, prosecutors say. By his own admission, he played a key role in organizing the men.

Today's court action brings to six the number of men who have pleaded guilty in the high-profile case that the Justice Department had publicized as an important milestone in the war on terrorism. A federal grand jury originally charged the 11 men in June with weapons counts and with training with Lashkar-i-Taiba, a group that is trying to drive India from Kashmir and has been labeled a terrorist organization by the U.S. government.

"Our success in the war on terrorism depends on our ability to gain the cooperation of those who have information about the global terrorist network," said Attorney General John D. Ashcroft. "Today's pleas accomplish that goal and provide tough sentences for those who would join with and support our terrorist enemies."

The men -- all but one from the Washington suburbs and nine of them U.S. citizens -- were accused of possessing a variety of weapons and practicing military tactics during their paintball games. Four of them pleaded guilty before today, and have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from less than four years to 11 1/2 years.

In September, the charges were upgraded against the seven remaining defendants. Two, including Royer, were charged in the new indictment with conspiring to provide material support to Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda organization and to his Taliban protectors in Afghanistan. A third is accused of supplying services to the Taliban.

Those charges against Royer were dropped in exchange for today's plea. Four of the other defendants still facing charges are scheduled to go on trial in February; a seventh faces trial in March. It was unclear what affect today's pleas will have on the remaining defendants. The plea deals require Royer and al-Hamdi to cooperate with prosecutors.

Royer said he took "full responsibility for my actions" as he entered his plea before U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema. He pleaded guilty to one count of using and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and with carrying an explosive during the commission of a felony.

His lawyer, John Nassikas, said Royer admits that an object of the conspiracy was to fight against India in violation of U.S. law. But he denied the contention of prosecutors, and at least one other defendant, that the men may have taken up arms against the United States or American soldiers.

"Mr. Royer has never had any desire or intent to hurt Americans or American soldiers at any time," he said.