(Courthouse News) A Hezbollah-trained sleeper agent who scouted New York City buildings for possible targets of terrorism failed to secure a reversal of his 40-year prison sentence Tuesday.
At oral arguments back in April, attorneys for Lebanon-born Ali Kourani [said he] only spoke to agents about his plan to become a suicide bomber after they led him to believe that the information he provided would secure his immunity from prosecution.
Over the course of five interviews, Kourani described having scouted airports and government buildings in New York City as potential targets for attacks. The sleeper agent noted that he feared for his family’s and his own safety, but that agents told him that the meetings would “remain confidential.” Instead, the information was then used to convict Kourani on eight counts of terrorism that carried a possible life sentence.
