Duka brothers get life sentences

    The Dukas are part of the “Fort Dix Five,” a group of foreign-born men who were convicted last year of plotting to attack a New Jersey military base.

    090428lfftdixbrother
    Brother of the defendants

    Three brothers have been sentenced to life in prison for conspiring to kill American soldiers. The Dukas are part of the “Fort Dix Five,” a group of foreign-born men who were convicted last year of plotting to attack a New Jersey military base.

    Listen:
    [audio: 090428lfftdix.mp3]

    The defendants claim they weren’t serious about attacking Fort Dix, the government argued that they were. Acting U.S. Attorney Ralph Marra says had the men not been caught, military personnel would have been killed. He called the men “unsuccessful jihadists.”

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    Marra: There were numerous forks in the road here where anyone of them could have said I’m not going to participate in this, this is wrong. None of them ever did any of that. Rather they took the fork in the road that led to criminal conduct and what they planned which was murder and mayhem.

    Mauri Saalakhan calls the sentences an atrocity
    Mauri Saalakhan calls the sentences an atrocity

    All three Duka brothers: Dritan, Shain, and Eljvir claim they are innocent and are expected to appeal. Dritan and Shain Duka were given an additional sentence of 30 years in prison for weapons violations.

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