Terror Suspect Held Without Bail: Maldonado Update

Daniel Joseph Maldonado, who was accused of receiving training from al-Qaeda in his efforts to help overthrow the Somali government, will remain in jail without bond until his trial, a federal judge ruled Wednesday.^[1] We have discussed this case previously, here.

During a two-day probable cause and detention hearing, FBI agents and prosecutors portrayed a violent young man who eagerly trained alongside al-Qaeda operatives while learning about bombs and firearms.^[2] He is also accused of working to turn Somalia into “another Iraq” where insurgents would come in and terrorize the country and of recruiting others for this cause.^[3]

Defense attorneys described Maldonado as a man who was driven out of the U.S.by anti-Muslim sentiment.^[4] He and his family moved out of the country so they could live at ease as Muslims.^[5] ''I did intend to open up a bookstore to generate some money,'' Maldonado said a statement, parts of which were read in court Wednesday by defense attorney Brent Newton.^[6]

Maldonado faces charges of undergoing military training with a terrorist organization and conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction, specifically a bomb. If convicted, he faces up to life in prison.^[7]

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^[1] Juan A. Lozano, Judge rules terror suspect held without bond, AP (via Boston Globe), February 21, 2007.
^[2] Id.
^[3] Id.
^[4] Id.
^[5] Id.
^[6] Id.
^[7] Id.