Kan. militia members get 25 to 30 years for Garden City bomb plot

The Latest on sentencing of three militia members convicted in a plot to blow up a mosque and apartments housing Somali immigrants (all times local):

5:40 p.m.

Three men convicted of plotting to bomb a Garden City apartment complex housing Somali immigrants face 25 to 30 years in federal prison.

A judge sentenced Curtis Allen, of Liberal, Kan. and Gavin Wright, of Beaver County, Okla. to 25 and 26 years respectively one count each of conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction and "conspiracy to violate the housing rights of their intended victims," the U.S. Attorney's Office says.

A jury also convicted Wright of lying to the FBI in a matter involving domestic terrorism.

Patrick Stein, of Wright, Kan., identified as the alleged ringleader in the foiled plot to bomb the apartments and mosque in Garden City, faces a sentence of 30 years in federal prison.

“The Department of Justice works every day to thwart terrorist threats to the United States," said Acting Attorney General Whitaker. "The defendants in this case acted with clear premeditation in an attempt to kill innocent people on the basis of their religion and national origin. That's not just illegal—it's morally repugnant. Today's sentence is a significant victory against hate crimes and domestic terrorism, and I want to thank everyone who helped bring the defendants to justice—the dedicated professionals with the FBI, the United States Attorney's Office in Kansas, the Civil Rights Division, the National Security Division, and our state and local law enforcement partners. Law enforcement saved lives in this case."

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3:20 p.m.

The alleged ringleader of a foiled plot to massacre Muslims in southwest Kansas has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Patrick Stein was sentenced Friday for his role in the plot to blow up a mosque and apartments housing Somali immigrants in Garden City. The attack was planned for the day after the 2016 election. Stein was one of three militia members convicted last year.

The plot was thwarted by another militia member who tipped off authorities to escalating threats of violence. He testified that Stein started recruiting others to kill Muslim immigrants after the June 2016 mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, by a gunman who had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group.

Prosecutors had sought life in prison. Stein's attorneys asked for 15 years.

A judge sentenced Stein to 30 years for conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction and 10 years for conspiracy against civil rights. The sentences will run concurrently.

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12:10 p.m.

A man who authorities say drafted a manifesto for militia members involved in a foiled plot to massacre Muslims in southwest Kansas has been sentenced to 25 years in prison.

A judge sentenced Curtis Allen on Friday for his role in the plot to blow up a mosque and apartments housing Somali immigrants in Garden City. The attack was planned for the day after the 2016 election. Allen was one of three militia members convicted last year.

Allen was sentenced to 25 years for conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction and 10 years for conspiracy against civil rights. The sentences will run concurrently.

Authorities say Allen drafted the group's handwritten manifesto that outlined grievances against the government for - in the document's words - "not enforcing our borders." Authorities say the men planned to release the manifesto after the bombing.

Prosecutors had sought life in prison. Allen's attorneys asked for 10 years.

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10 a.m.

Somali immigrants targeted in a foiled plot to blow up their mosque and apartments in southwest Kansas told a judge through video testimony that they are still scared.

Prosecutors played five video clips of the Somalis at the sentencing Friday of Patrick Stein, Gavin Wright and Curtis Allen. The three militia members were convicted last year of plotting the attack in Garden City for the day after the 2016 presidential election.

In one video, Ifrah Farah pleaded: "Please don't kill us. Please don't hate us. We can't hurt you."

Garden City police Chief Michael Utz asked the judge to send a strong message that this type of behavior will not be condoned.

Prosecutors are seeking life terms. The men are asking for shorter terms of 15 years, 10 years and time served.

The plot was thwarted after another militia member tipped off authorities.

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12:01 a.m.

Three militia men could face life in prison for a foiled plot to blow up a mosque and apartments housing Somali immigrants in Kansas.

A federal judge will sentence Patrick Stein, Gavin Wright and Curtis Allen on Friday. The men were convicted last year of plotting the attack in Garden City for the day after the 2016 presidential election. The meatpacking town is about 220 miles (354 kilometers) west of Wichita.

Prosecutors are seeking life terms. Stein is seeking a 15-year sentence, Allen 10 years, and Wright is asking for "time served." All three have been imprisoned since October 2016.

They were convicted of conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction and conspiracy against civil rights. Wright was also convicted of lying to the FBI.

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A federal judge has ruled that Somali immigrants can testify at the sentencing of three militia members convicted of plotting to bomb their Kansas apartment complex.

The decision Tuesday is a blow to the efforts by defense attorneys to block 20 short videos of testimony that prosecutors want to play at the men's Jan. 25 sentencing hearings.

Attorneys for Patrick Stein, Gavin Wright and Curtis Allen contend that the Somalis aren't victims because no one was hurt.

U.S. District Judge Eric Melgren ruled that the intended victims are entitled to have their statements heard.

The defendants were convicted of conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction and conspiring to violate civil rights. Wright was also convicted of lying to the FBI.

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