Four adults who ran a heavily fortified compound and were awaiting the resurrection of a kidnapped toddler who they thought could help them rid the world of the CIA, the FBI and the US military were given life sentences by a US judge on Wednesday.
A trial last year heard how the group had kidnapped a three-year-old in Georgia in December 2017 and taken him to a purpose-built training facility in rural New Mexico, from where they planned to wage war against what they called corrupt institutions.
A fifth person, Jany Leveille, a Haitian national who was the group’s alleged spiritual leader, was given a 15-year sentence under a plea deal, a US Department of Justice statement said in a statement.
Photo: AP
Federal prosecutors who began the case against the five in 2018 said that the compound was a facility for training the children to carry out school shootings.
While it was heavily fortified, there was no running water, no electricity and little in the way of food.
The kidnapped child died days later, with Leveille prophesying that he would come back to life in April the following year and then lead them against their enemies, killing anyone who refused to join them.
“In response, the group’s firearms and tactical training ramped up in frequency, intensity and complexity in anticipation of the Easter resurrection,” the statement said.
When that date passed without a resurrection, Leveille changed the forecast to a date later in the year.
Law enforcement officers raided the compound in August 2018, finding malnourished children, who were handed over to child welfare authorities.
“While clearing the compound, weapons, ammunition, and training documents were discovered, confirming intelligence that had been received,” the department said.
A later search found the body of the three-year-old.
“The group intended to use the child as a prop in a plan to rid the world of purportedly corrupt institutions, including the FBI, CIA and US military, and to kill those who did not convert and follow Leveille,” the statement said.
Siraj Ibn Wahhaj — the father of the kidnapped child — his sisters Hujrah Wahhaj and Subhanah Wahhaj, and Subhanah’s husband, Lucas Morton, were all jailed for life without the possibility of parole.
Leveille is to be deported on her release.
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