# 2005 Los Angeles bomb plot

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Planned terrorist attacks in the United States

The **2005 Los Angeles bomb plot** was a 2005 effort by a group of ex-convicts calling themselves*Jamiyyat Ul-Islam Is-Saheeh* to bomb several military bases, a number of synagogues, and an Israeli consulate in California.[1][2]

On 31 August 2005, Kevin James and three other men were indicted on terrorism charges related to conspiracy to attack military facilities in the Los Angeles area and of attempting to fund their campaign by robbing gas stations in Southern California over the previous three months. Kevin James was accused of founding a radical Islamic group called J.I.S (Jam’iyyat Ul-Islam Is-Saheeh جمعية الإسلام الصحيح, Arabic for "Assembly of Authentic [Islam](/source/Islam)") from his cell in [Folsom Prison](/source/Folsom_Prison) in California, and of recruiting fellow inmates to join his mission to target for violent attack so-called enemies of Islam or "infidels".[3]

The announcement of the arrests was made by Attorney General [Alberto Gonzales](/source/Alberto_Gonzales) in the presence of the director of the FBI [Robert Mueller](/source/Robert_Mueller) in Washington D.C.[4] Mueller mentioned the incident in a "Major Executive Speech" in June 2006 on the day that the [2006 Sears Tower plot](/source/2006_Sears_Tower_plot) was announced.[5] The Deputy Assistant Director of the FBI outlined the case in his congressional testimony in September 2006.[6]

## Background

See also: [Islam and antisemitism](/source/Islam_and_antisemitism) and [Terrorism in the United States](/source/Terrorism_in_the_United_States)

The plot is one in a series of terrorist-related attacks and failed attacks by Muslims on military installations in the United States, including the [2009 New York terrorism plot](/source/2009_New_York_terrorism_plot), the [2007 Fort Dix attack plot](/source/2007_Fort_Dix_attack_plot), the [2009 Little Rock recruiting office shooting](/source/2009_Little_Rock_recruiting_office_shooting), and the [September 11 attacks](/source/September_11_attacks) on the Pentagon.

## Suspects

- Kevin Lamar James, founded J.I.S. (Jam’iyyat Ul-Islam Is-Saheeh) in 2004 while in prison, recruiting fellow inmates, and then others after his release in December 2004.

- Levar Haney Washington, Muslim convert, a U.S. national; arrested 5 July for armed robbery.

- Gregory Vernon Patterson, a U.S. national; purchased a .223-caliber rifle and arrested 5 July for armed robbery.

- Hammad Riaz Samana, a lawful permanent U.S. resident originally from Pakistan; allegedly trained with firearms; arrested 2 August.[1]

Several of the suspects formed a group called *Jam’iyyat Ul-Islam Is-Saheeh* from inside a California state prison[7] About a month later, Washington was released from prison and recruited Patterson and Samana, neither of whom had a criminal record, at an Inglewood mosque.

## Conviction

On 14 December 2007, Kevin James pleaded guilty to "conspiracy to levy war against the United States through terrorism" and was sentenced to 16 years in federal prison.[8] Levar Washington also pleaded guilty to the same charges plus an additional weapons charge and was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison.[9]

Gregory Patterson pled guilty to the same conspiracy and weapons charges as Washington and was sentenced to just over 12.5 years in federal prison.[9] Hammad Samana was initially found to be unfit to stand trial and underwent psychiatric treatment. However, in 2009, he was subsequently charged and sentenced to just under 6 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to levy war against the U. S government through terrorism.[10]

In an interview with the prosecutor, the reporter remarked that "the cell appears to have been remarkably indiscreet about committing plans to paper. They even left the text of a press release Mr. James had written for use once they committed a successful attack. And one of the ringleaders, James, was in prison the whole time."[10] Documents such as these formed the basis of the evidence, since the group hadn't gotten to the point of gathering materials to make explosives.

## Aftermath

Gregory Patterson served roughly 8 years of his sentenced and was released from a federal halfway house in [Long Beach, California](/source/Long_Beach%2C_California) on September 22, 2016. Hammad Samana was released from [FCI Englewood](/source/Federal_Correctional_Institution%2C_Englewood) in [Littleton, Colorado](/source/Littleton%2C_Colorado) on August, 30, 2010. He was then taken into custody by [Immigration, Customs and Enforcement](/source/United_States_Immigration_and_Customs_Enforcement) before being deported to [Pakistan](/source/Pakistan) in November 2010.[11]

A 2011 [NPR](/source/NPR) report claimed both Kevin James (who legally changed his name to Ahmed Binyamin Alasiri) and Levar Washington were both imprisoned in the highly restrictive [Communication Management Unit](/source/Communication_Management_Unit).[12]

James was released from federal custody in September 2019. While on federal supervised release in Long Beach, California, he sold 1.7 kilograms (3.4 pounds) [methamphetamine](/source/Methamphetamine) to a buyer over three meetings. He was indicted on one count of distributing methamphetamine and was sentenced to over 15 years in prison. He is currently incarcerated at [FCI Tucson](/source/Federal_Correctional_Institution%2C_Tucson) in [Tucson, Arizona](/source/Tucson%2C_Arizona) and is projected to be released from prison on July 27, 2031.[13]

Washington was initially set for release from federal custody in September 2024. In 2017, he was sentenced to an additional 6 years in federal prison after he stabbed a fellow inmate with a "shank" 13 to 15 times while they were both housed in [USP Allenwood](/source/United_States_Penitentiary%2C_Allenwood) in [Pennsylvania](/source/Pennsylvania).[14] In 2022, Washington was sentenced to a further term of over 13 years to run consecutively to both other sentences after stabbed a correctional officer with an 11-inch shank at [USP Pollock](/source/United_States_Penitentiary%2C_Pollock) in [Louisiana](/source/Louisiana). Washington is currently serving his sentences at [ADX Florence](/source/ADX_Florence), the federal [supermax prison](/source/Supermax_prison) in [Florence, Colorado](/source/Florence%2C_Colorado). His projected release date is February 3, 2043.[15]

## See also

- [Los Angeles portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Los_Angeles)
- [Islam portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Islam)

- [Islamic extremism in the United States](/source/Islamic_extremism_in_the_United_States)

- [Conversion to Islam in prisons](/source/Conversion_to_Islam_in_prisons)

- [2009 Little Rock military recruiting office shooting](/source/2009_Little_Rock_recruiting_office_shooting) – al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula-inspired attack by Yemen-trained *[jihadi](/source/Jihad)*

- [2009 Bronx terrorism plot](/source/2009_Bronx_terrorism_plot) – a plot by four [black](/source/Black_people) [American Muslim](/source/Islam_in_the_United_States) men to shoot down military airplanes flying out of an [Air National Guard](/source/Air_National_Guard) base and blow up two [synagogues](/source/Synagogues)

- [2011 Manhattan terrorism plot](/source/2011_Manhattan_terrorism_plot) – an effort by two [Muslim](/source/Muslim) [Arab-Americans](/source/Arab-Americans) to bomb a synagogue

- [List of attacks on Jewish institutions in the United States](/source/List_of_attacks_on_Jewish_institutions_in_the_United_States)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-sfgate_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-sfgate_1-1) Marquez, Jeremiah (September 1, 2005). ["Four indicted in alleged terrorist plot against LA-area targets"](https://web.archive.org/web/20060815233005/http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fn%2Fa%2F2005%2F08%2F31%2Fstate%2Fn143135D24.DTL). *SFGate.com*. Archived from [the original](http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/08/31/state/n143135D24.DTL) on August 15, 2006.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-nbcnews_2-0)** ["Four charged with hatching prison terror plot"](https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna9148467). *NBC News*. August 31, 2005. Retrieved October 29, 2018.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Four Men Indicted on Terrorism Charges Related to Conspiracy to Attack Military Facilities, Other Targets"](https://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2005/August/05_crm_453.html) (Press release). Department of Justice. August 31, 2006. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090530184752/http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2005/August/05_crm_453.html) from the original on May 30, 2009. Retrieved October 17, 2006.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Prepared Remarks of Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales at the California Terrorism Indictment Press Conference"](https://web.archive.org/web/20061004122221/http://www.usdoj.gov/ag/speeches/2005/ag_speech_050831.html) (Press release). Department of Justice. August 31, 2005. Archived from [the original](https://www.usdoj.gov/ag/speeches/2005/ag_speech_050831.html) on October 4, 2006.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-fbiexec_5-0)** Robert S. Mueller, III (June 23, 2006). ["Remarks Prepared for Delivery by Director Robert S. Mueller, III"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090512062429/http://www.fbi.gov/pressrel/speeches/mueller062306.htm). *FBI Major Executive Speeches* (Press release). FBI. Archived from [the original](https://www.fbi.gov/pressrel/speeches/mueller062306.htm) on May 12, 2009. Retrieved October 17, 2006.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Donald Van Duyn (September 19, 2006). ["Statement of Donald Van Duyn Deputy Assistant Director, Counterterrorism Division Federal Bureau of Investigation Before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and Related Agencies"](https://web.archive.org/web/20061003235745/https://www.fbi.gov/congress/congress06/vanduyn091906.htm) (Press release). FBI. Archived from [the original](https://www.fbi.gov/congress/congress06/vanduyn091906.htm) on October 3, 2006.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** New York Times, [Imams Reject Talk That Islam Radicalizes Inmates](https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/24/nyregion/24convert.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180924072041/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/24/nyregion/24convert.html) 2018-09-24 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), DANIEL J. WAKIN, May 23, 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Ex-gang member jailed over Calif. terror plot"](https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna29560949). *NBC News*. March 7, 2009. Retrieved December 3, 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_9-1) ["#08-634: Second Man Involved in Domestic Terrorism Plot Targeting Military, Jewish Facilities Sentenced to Prison (2008-07-21)"](https://www.justice.gov/archive/opa/pr/2008/July/08-nsd-634.html#:~:text=Gregory%20Patterson,%2024,%20of%20Gardena,to%2022%20years%20in%20prison.). *www.justice.gov*. Retrieved December 3, 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-murr2007_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-murr2007_10-1) Murr, Andrew (December 15, 2007). ["Thwarting Terror"](http://www.newsweek.com/id/78189). Newsweek. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20081009143421/http://www.newsweek.com/id/78189) from the original on October 9, 2008. Retrieved December 27, 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Archived: ICE removes terrorist to Pakistan | ICE"](https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/ice-removes-terrorist-pakistan). *www.ice.gov*. November 22, 2010. Retrieved December 3, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-npr2_12-0)** [DATA & GRAPHICS: Population Of The Communications Management Units](https://www.npr.org/2011/03/03/134227726/data-graphics-population-of-the-communications-management-units) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110307093207/http://www.npr.org/2011/03/03/134227726/data-graphics-population-of-the-communications-management-units) 2011-03-07 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), Margot Williams and Alyson Hurt, [NPR](/source/NPR), 3-3-11, retrieved 2011 03 04 from npr.org

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Central District of California | Convicted Terrorist Sentenced to Over 15 Years in Federal Prison for Selling Pounds of Methamphetamine While on Supervised Release | United States Department of Justice"](https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/convicted-terrorist-sentenced-over-15-years-federal-prison-selling-pounds). *www.justice.gov*. March 28, 2022. Retrieved December 3, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Middle District of Pennsylvania | Inmate Sentenced To Six Years For Assault With Dangerous Weapon | United States Department of Justice"](https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdpa/pr/inmate-sentenced-six-years-assault-dangerous-weapon). *www.justice.gov*. May 15, 2017. Retrieved December 3, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Western District of Louisiana | Two Defendants Sentenced in U.S. District Court | United States Department of Justice"](https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdla/pr/two-defendants-sentenced-us-district-court). *www.justice.gov*. February 18, 2022. Retrieved December 3, 2025.

## External links

- ["Analysis: Militant Islam in U.S. Prison System"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080517054101/http://www.cpt-mi.org/pdf/Torrancev2.pdf) (PDF). Archived from the original on May 17, 2008. Retrieved June 5, 2009.{{[cite web](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_web)}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_bot:_original_URL_status_unknown))

v t e Alleged militants in the war on terror who have lived in United States People listed in italics have died. September 11 attacks Khalid Sheikh Mohammed1 Mohamed Atta Satam al-Suqami Waleed al-Shehri Wail al-Shehri Abdulaziz al-Omari Marwan al-Shehhi Fayez Banihammad Mohand al-Shehri Hamza al-Ghamdi Ahmed al-Ghamdi Hani Hanjour Khalid al-Mihdhar Majed Moqed Nawaf al-Hazmi Salem al-Hazmi Ziad Jarrah Ahmed al-Nami Saeed al-Ghamdi Ahmed al-Haznawi Buffalo Six Sahim Alwan2 Mukhtar al-Bakri2 Kamal Derwish Jaber A. Elbaneh Faysal Galab2 Yahya Goba2 Shafal Mosed2 Yaseinn Taher2 al-Qaeda/al-Jihad Anwar al-Awlaki Adam Yahiye Gadahn Wadih el-Hage1 Ziyad Khaleel Khaled Abu al-Dahab Ali Mohamed1 Zacarias Moussaoui1 Aafia Siddiqui1 Bryant Neal Vinas1 Najibullah Zazi1 Boston cab drivers Mohamad Elzahabi2 Nabil al-Marabh2 Raed Hijazi1 Bassam Kanj Portland Seven Jeffrey Battle1 Ahmed Bilal2 Muhammad Ibrahim Bilal2 Patrice Lumumba Ford1 Mike Hawash2 October Lewis2 Habis Abdulla al Saoub Arrested in 2005 and convicted Abdulrahman Farhane1 Mahmud al-Mutazzim1 Rafiq Abdus Sabir1 Tarik Shah1 Liberty City Seven Patrick Abraham1 Burson Augustin1 Rotschild Augustine1 Narseal Batiste1 Stanley Phanor1 2007 Fort Dix plot Agron Abdullahu2 Dritan Duka1 Eljvir Duka1 Shain Duka1 Mohamad Ibrahim Shnewer1 Serdar Tatar1 D.C. Five Umer Farooq1 Waqar Khan1 Ahmed Abdullah Minni1 Aman Hassan Yasir1 Ramy Zamzam1 Others Shirwa Ahmed Yahya al-Bahrumi Mohamed Mahmood Alessa / Carlos Eduardo Almonte1 Daniel Patrick Boyd1 / Raleigh jihad group1 John Walker Lindh2 Sayed Malike1 Adnan Gulshair el Shukrijumah Nuradin Abdi1 Ahmed Omar Abu Ali1 Farooque Ahmed1 Iyman Faris1 Rezwan Ferdaus1 Michael Finton1 Jude Kenan Mohammad ”AustraliWitness”1 Nidal Hasan1 David Headley1 Daniel Maldonado1 José Padilla1 Tahawwur Hussain Rana1 Michael Curtis Reynolds1 Faisal Shahzad1 Hosam Maher Husein Smadi1 Majid Khan2 Jose Pimentel Related articles Detroit Sleeper Cell Virginia jihad network 2005 Los Angeles bomb plot 2009 Little Rock recruiting office shooting 2010 Portland car bomb plot 2011 Manhattan plot 1 Currently imprisoned. 2 Released after serving sentence.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [2005 Los Angeles bomb plot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_Los_Angeles_bomb_plot) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005_Los_Angeles_bomb_plot?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.