Man Guilty of Trying to Sell Missiles in Sting Operation

A former British clothing merchant was convicted Wednesday of attempting to sell shoulder-launched missiles to what he believed was a terrorist group planning to shoot down airliners.

The federal jury reached its verdict in its second day of deliberations, finding Hemant Lakhani guilty on all five counts.

Lakhani, 69, was arrested in 2003 at a hotel room near the Newark airport after getting caught in a sting operation in which undercover operatives posed as terrorists and arms dealers.

Prosecutors said he agreed to arrange the sale of more than 50 missiles.

It was the first terrorism case prosecuted in New Jersey since the Sept. 11 attacks.

U.S. Atty. Christopher J. Christie called the verdict “a triumph for the Justice Department in the war against terror.”

Lakhani, he added, “didn’t care who he was dealing them to, or what they wanted to use them for.”

Prosecutors said Lakhani, a British citizen of Indian descent, was heard in one taped conversation saying Osama bin Laden “straightened these idiots -- he did a very good thing,” in reference to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and spoke about providing the missiles in time for the one-year anniversary of the attacks.

His attorney, Henry Klingeman, insisted that Lakhani had no sympathies with terrorist groups, and argued that his client was a victim of entrapment.

Lakhani was convicted of attempting to provide material support to terrorists, money laundering and other charges.

The most serious charges carry up to 20 years in prison. Sentencing was set for Aug. 8.