Liberty City 7

The FBI arrested seven men known as the Liberty City 7 on June 23, 2006 in Miami, Florida. They were charged with conspiracy to blow up the Sears Tower in Chicago and the FBI building in Miami, Florida. The suspects were called the Liberty City 7 because they operated out of a warehouse in Miami's Liberty City housing project.Jurist: Federal judge sets 2009 date for third trial in Sears Tower terror case (April 30, 2008) Miami Herald: Jury convicts 5, acquits 1 in Liberty City Six terror retrial (May 12, 2009)

After two mistrials, on May 12, 2009, a third jury found five of the six remaining Liberty City defendants guilty of conspiracy and sentenced each to between 30 and 70 years. Attorneys have said they will repeal.Miami Herald: Jury convicts 5, acquits 1 in Liberty City Six terror retrial (May 12, 2009)

• Narseal Batiste, 35, guilty on four terrorism charges, faces up to 70 years in prison
• Patrick Abraham, 29, guilty on three charges, up to 50 years
• Rothschild Augustin, 25, guilty on two counts, up to 30 years
• Burson Augustin, 24, guilty on two counts, up to 30 years
• Stanley Grant Phanor, 33, guilty on two counts, up to 30 years
• Naudimar Herrera, 25, found not guilty on all chargesMiami Herald: Jury convicts 5, acquits 1 in Liberty City Six terror retrial (May 12, 2009)

The alleged plot was foiled when the FBI raided the warehouse that served as their temple. The men called their group the 'Seas of David'. No firearms or explosives were found. The government's case was supported by a paid FBI informant who infiltrated the group. He offered them new boots, guns, and $50,000 from Al Qaeda if they swore allegiance to the group. The Liberty City 7 were then video-taped taking the oath. The tape later became a key piece of evidence in the trial.Jurist: Federal judge sets 2009 date for third trial in Sears Tower terror case (April 30, 2008) Miami Herald: Jury convicts 5, acquits 1 in Liberty City Six terror retrial (May 12, 2009)

The men were arrested in June of 2006, in a poor section of Miami called Liberty City, where Mohammad Atta was also known to operate. Those arrested included five U.S. citizens, a legal immigrant from Haiti and an illegal alien from Haiti. The alleged ringleader was 32-year-old Narseal Batiste, the leader of the Moorish Science Temple, a small sect that combines Jewish, Christian and Islamic principals and doesn't recognize the legitimacy of the U.S. government. The others were in their twenties.MSNBC: 'Homegrown terrorists' arraigned in court (June 23, 2006)

In December 2005, Batiste met several times with a federal informant who said he was an Al-Qaida member. Batiste asked for equipment and clothing to help build an "Islamic army" to wage jihad against the United States,and $50,000 for expenses. He said that the initial target would be the Sears Tower in Chicago. The informant gave Batiste a video camera which Batiste used to take photographs of the FBI building and other Miami government buildings, and to record the men swearing loyalty to Al Qaida.MSNBC: 'Homegrown terrorists' arraigned in court (June 23, 2006)

Neighbors to the warehouse where Batiste and his associates congregated said that the men called themselves Black Muslims, often wore turbans, hid their faces and attempted to recruit others.MSNBC: 'Homegrown terrorists' arraigned in court (June 23, 2006)

The defense argued that the plot was inspiration of the federal informant, and that Batiste and his friends were trying to con the men about of the $50,000. They pointed out that the Liberty City 7 had no actual Al Qaida contacts, no weapons and no means of carrying out the attacks. BBC: Sears Tower 'plot' trial begins (October 3, 2007)

Both the first and second trials ended in hung juries, leading to mistrials. The first trial ended with a mistrial in December of 2007. The second trial was also declared a mistrial and wrapped up on April 16, 2008 after 13 days of deliberation. The third trial took two months, and was hampered by the dismissal of two jurors, one for illness, the other for non-cooperation, but finally resolved in convictions for five of the six defendants in May 2009. Jurist: Federal judge sets 2009 date for third trial in Sears Tower terror case (April 30, 2008) Miami Herald: Jury convicts 5, acquits 1 in Liberty City Six terror retrial (May 12, 2009)