In a surprising turn of events, James Cromitie, a man convicted in a post-9/11 terrorism sting, has been ordered to be released from prison by U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon. The judge criticized the FBI for relying on an “unsavory” confidential informant and for inventing a conspiracy to blow up New York synagogues and shoot down National Guard planes. This decision comes six months after Judge McMahon ordered the release of Cromitie's three co-defendants, known as the Newburgh Four, for similar reasons.

Cromitie, who is now 58 years old, has already served 15 years of his 25-year minimum sentence. Judge McMahon has now reduced his sentence to time served plus an additional 90 days. The prosecution in this high-profile case alleged that the Newburgh defendants spent months scouting targets and obtaining what they believed were explosives and a surface-to-air missile. Their plan was to shoot down planes at the Air National Guard base in Newburgh and blow up synagogues in the Bronx. However, they were apprehended after planting “bombs” that were actually filled with inert explosives provided by the FBI.

Critics have long accused federal agents of entrapping these men, who were allegedly desperate and struggling after previous prison sentences. In a scathing ruling, Judge McMahon stated that the FBI had fabricated the conspiracy and identified the targets. She argued that Cromitie and his co-defendants would not have been able to devise such a crime on their own, which she believed did not warrant the 25-year sentence they were given.

Furthermore, Judge McMahon dismissed the notion that Cromitie was a leader among the co-defendants, citing his well-documented buffoonery and ineptitude. She harshly criticized the FBI informant, Shaheed Hussain, who was described as "most unsavory" and a “villain” sent by the government to manipulate vulnerable individuals into committing a faux crime in exchange for money. This is not the first time that Hussain's work has come under scrutiny, as he was also involved in a sting operation that targeted an Albany pizza shop owner and an imam, resulting in their conviction for money laundering and conspiring to aid a terrorist group.

Hussain gained further attention in 2018 when a limousine owned by his company crashed in rural Schoharie, New York, killing 20 people. His son, Nauman Hussain, who operated the limo company, was convicted of manslaughter last year and is currently serving a prison sentence of five to 15 years.

Cromitie's attorney, Kerry Lawrence, expressed his satisfaction with the judge's decision and reiterated his belief that his client's conviction was solely the result of government entrapment. Lawrence emphasized that Cromitie was manipulated by the informant more than any of the other defendants who had been previously released. He added that it would have been shocking if Judge McMahon had not granted their motion for release.

Efforts to obtain comments from the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's office in New York City have been made, but no response has been received thus far. The release of James Cromitie raises questions about the use of confidential informants and the potential for entrapment in high-profile terrorism cases.