Three Convicted in Va. Jihad Case

Muslim activists, at a press conference outside the courthouse, echoed Lyon's sentiment that American Muslims are treated with unfair suspicion by the Justice Department since the Sept. 11 attacks.

Shaker Elsayed, secretary general of the Muslim American Council, said the verdicts were an example of "U.S. Justice Department rule by paranoia."

Bernie Grimm, who represented Khan, said the case was the result of "9-11 hysteria."

"If I thought Mr. Khan had any role in aligning himself with Islamic extremists, I never would have represented him," he said. "This has to do with John Ashcroft, with George Bush getting re-elected. ... Today I'm embarrassed to be an American."

Because of the mandatory minimum sentences, Khan and Chapman will receive significantly longer terms than "American Taliban" John Walker Lindh, who struck a plea bargain in the same courthouse in July 2002 that resulted in a 20-year sentence. The core charge against Lindh -- providing support to the Taliban -- is identical to one of the core charges against Khan.

U.S. Attorney Paul McNulty said after the verdict he was extremely pleased with the convictions, and said it is improper to compare this charge to other terror cases.

"I think the results of this case speak for themselves," McNulty said.

A fourth defendant, Caliph Basha ibn Abdur-Raheem, had been acquitted on all charges earlier in the trial after Brinkema said she saw no evidence linking him to the conspiracy in any meaningful way.

Six members of the alleged conspiracy have already pleaded guilty to various charges, receiving prison sentences ranging from 4 years to 11 1/2 years. Five of those who struck pleas testified for the prosecution.