{"id":14893,"date":"2015-08-22T17:50:50","date_gmt":"2015-08-23T00:50:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=14893"},"modified":"2015-08-22T17:51:36","modified_gmt":"2015-08-23T00:51:36","slug":"klu-klux-klan-member-convicted-of-trying-to-develop-lethal-radiation-weapon-of-mass-destruction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=14893","title":{"rendered":"Klu Klux Klan Member Convicted of Trying to Develop Lethal Radiation Weapon of Mass Destruction"},"content":{"rendered":"

NEW YORK<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

\"Northern<\/a>A jury on Friday convicted Glendon Scott Crawford,<\/strong> 51, of Galway, New York, for his role in attempting to develop a lethal radiation device to use it on Muslims, officials said.<\/p>\n

The jury made the decision after a\u00a0five-day trial on all charges relating to building a weapon of mass destruction, according to authorities.<\/p>\n

He is facing up to life in prison when he is sentenced. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 15, officials said.<\/p>\n

Crawford is the first person to be found guilty of attempting to construct a radiological dispersal device, a statute Congress passed in 2004, officials said.<\/p>\n

\u201cGlendon Scott Crawford, a self-professed member of the Ku Klux Klan, was convicted of offenses relating to his deadly plan to use a radiological dispersal device to target unsuspecting Muslim Americans with lethal doses of radiation,\u201d said Assistant Attorney General John Carlin.\u00a0<\/strong> \u201cThe National Security Division\u2019s highest priority is counterterrorism, and we will continue to pursue justice against those who seek to perpetrate attacks on American soil.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Crawford, a self-professed member of the Ku Klux Klan<\/strong>, wanted to use the device against Muslims, and he scouted mosques in Albany and Schenectady and an Islamic community center and school in Schenectady as possible targets.<\/p>\n

He also suggested the New York governor\u2019s mansion as a potential target.<\/p>\n

Crawford was convicted of attempting to produce and use a radiological dispersal device and conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.<\/p>\n

Crawford was also convicted of distributing information relating to weapons of mass destruction, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.<\/p>\n

He also faces a $2 million fine on the attempting to produce and use a radiological dispersal device charge, and a fine of $250,000 on the other two charges.<\/p>\n

\u201cCrawford is a terrorist motivated by bigotry and hate who would have used a weapon of mass destruction to kill innocent Muslim members of our community were it not for the good judgment of citizens who quickly alerted law enforcement to his diabolical plan and the outstanding work of the Albany FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force,\u201d said U.S. Attorney Richard Hartunian.<\/strong>\u00a0 \u201cThis case illustrates how we must remain vigilant to protect our community from would-be terrorists.\u201d<\/p>\n

In April 2012, the FBI received information that Crawford, who was employed as an industrial mechanic with General Electric in Schenectady, New York, had approached local Jewish organizations seeking people who might help him develop technology to be used against people whom he perceived to be enemies of Israel.<\/p>\n

During a 14-month investigation, the Albany FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force learned that Crawford was attempting to solicit funds to purchase, and then weaponize, a commercially available X-ray machine so that it could be used to injure or kill others by exposing them to lethal doses of radiation.<\/p>\n

The investigation indicated that Crawford, with help from co-conspirator Eric J. Feight,<\/strong> took steps to design, acquire the parts for, build and test a remote initiation device that could have activated the radiation machine, and acquired the X-ray machine that he planned to modify into a weapon of mass destruction.<\/p>\n

The X-ray device that he planned to use had been modified so that Crawford could not have used it to hurt anyone.<\/p>\n

Feight pleaded guilty on Jan. 22, 2014, to providing material support to terrorists.\u00a0 He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 17 and is facing up to 15 years of imprisonment.<\/p>\n

With undercover agents, officials said Crawford discussed placing the radiological device within a van or truck, parking the vehicle near the entrance to the target location, and then remotely activating the device so that it would direct lethal doses of radiation at people coming in and out of the target location.<\/p>\n

A central feature of Crawford\u2019s completed X-ray device was that its targets would be exposed to dangerous and lethal doses of X-ray radiation without being aware of the exposure, the harmful effects of which would likely not be immediately apparent, according to authorities.<\/p>\n