Majid Shoukat Khan: Pleads guilty in "Let's Make a Deal"

High-value Guantanamo Detainee Pleads Guilty in Deal

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

FORT MEADE, Md., Feb. 29, 2012 – The only legal U.S. resident being held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, today became the first high-value detainee to plead guilty to charges of helping terrorists plot and carry out attacks.

Majid Shoukat Khan, 32, pleaded guilty to all charges against him as part of a plea deal that will give him a reduced sentence in exchange for cooperating with the U.S. government, including possibly testifying at other detainees’ trials.

Khan is charged with conspiracy, murder in violation of the law of war, attempted murder in violation of the law of war, providing material support for terrorism and spying.

The charges come from Khan’s role in delivering funds used to carry out the August 2003 bombing of the J.W. Marriot hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia, and his attempted assassination of former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.

In addition, he is accused of collaborating with self-proclaimed 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed on several domestic plots. These included plans to poison U.S. water reservoirs and blow up underground fuel storage tanks at U.S. gas stations.

Sentencing will be delayed for four years and will be based on Khan’s compliance, Army Col. James L. Pohl, the judge, explained during Khan’s arraignment today at Guantanamo Bay.

Should Khan provide “thorough, truthful cooperation and assistance” in support of upcoming proceedings, his sentence will be reduced to a maximum of 25 years, and as little as 19 years, in accordance with the plea deal, Pohl explained. Sentencing guidelines for his offenses typically would be be 25 to 40 years.

Time served beginning today will count toward fulfilling that sentence, Pohl said.

Khan responded “yes” when Pohl asked if he had entered into the plea agreement voluntarily and of his own free will as he waived his right to appear before a military jury...

Much more here.