A federal judge in New Haven Friday sentenced a former Navy sailor convicted of disclosing classified information while still in the service to 10 years in federal prison.
Federal District Court Judge Mark R. Kravitz also sentenced Hassan Abu-Jihaad, 33, whose birth name was Paul R. Hall, to three years of supervised release after serving his prison term.
A federal jury convicted Abu-JJihaad in March, 2008, of one count of providing material support of terrorism, and one count of disclosing previously classified information relating to the national defense. On March 4, 2009, Kravitz partially granted a defense motion for a judgment of acquittal on the material support of terrorism charge. The charge of disclosing previously classified information relating to the national defense carries a statutory maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.
“This defendant provided classified information to others with the understanding that it could be used to endanger the lives of hundreds of members of the United States Navy, and we are pleased that the court imposed the maximum prison term allowed under the law,” said Nora R. Dannehy, acting United States attorney for the District of Connecticut said in a statement.
“I want to acknowledge the efforts of all the agents, analysts and prosecutors involved in this matter who have worked diligently over the course of several years to bring this defendant to justice,” she said.Robert G. Golger, one of Abu-Hassan’s lawyers, did not immediately return a call seeking comment on the sentencing. He previously said he expected to appeal the remaining conviction and sentence.
Previous stories on this case:
• Ode To Osama
• Terror Case Convict Appeals To Judge
• Judge Reverses Verdict In Terrorism Case
• Betrayal Revealed
• Judge Throws Out Terror Evidence
• City Prepares For Terrorism Trial