MIAMI — A federal appeals court has thrown out the 17-year prison sentence imposed on convicted terrorism plotter Jose Padilla.

A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled today that the sentence imposed by a Miami federal judge was too lenient. The appeals court sent the case back for a new sentencing hearing.

Padilla and two co-conspirators were convicted in 2007 after a three-month trial in which prosecutors said they sent money, recruits and supplies to Islamic extremist groups including al-Qaida. The appeals ruling upheld all the convictions.

Padilla was arrested in 2002 at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on suspicion of plotting to set off a radioactive “dirty bomb.” He was held for 3 1/2 years as an enemy combatant without a criminal charge.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.