THIS SHOULD CARRY A LOT OF WEIGHT

2003-07-07 -- Habenstein, Jr., John -- Sentencing -- News Release

Somerset Man Sentenced to One Month Imprisonment for Making False Statements About Impending Terrorist Attack

NEWARK- A Somerset man was sentenced to one month imprisonment today for making false statements to federal law enforcement officers concerning alleged terrorist activities, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.

U.S. District Judge William G. Bassler also ordered John Habenstein, 32, to serve five months house arrest with electronic monitoring and three years supervised release after he is released from prison. In addition, Habenstein must pay a $2,000 fine.

At his plea hearing before Judge Bassler in February 2003, Habenstein admitted that he contacted the FBI in April and May 2002 claiming to have information concerning a terrorist attack that was about to take place in the United States. Habenstein also admitted that, in a series of discussions with FBI agents, Habenstein stated that he had learned that weapons of mass destruction were heading to the United States and Canada on two ships that had originated in the Middle East and were sailing under the flag of Liberia.

Habenstein admitted that he lied about the identity of the source of the information, who he initially claimed to be a high-ranking military official in the United Arab Emirates. Habenstein admitted that that and other information he provided was false, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Boxer.

Habenstein, who owned Intellecom Inc. in Hillsborough, which, he said, specialized in military and political intelligence, also provided information concerning possible dates and locations at which the weapons might be detonated, according to Habenstein's original criminal complaint.

As set forth in that criminal complaint, Habenstein admitted to the FBI that his information came from Internet sources, but he was not able to identify those sources. Habenstein further stated that he had lied in an attempt to gain favor with the FBI so that the FBI would assist him in his business venture.

Substantial law enforcement resources were mobilized in the United States and in Canada in response to Habenstein's initial statements. Efforts by law enforcement officers included boarding and searching a ship in Savannah, Ga. and in Newark, N.J. in search of the alleged weapons of mass destruction. No such weapons were found.

Christie credited Special Agents of the FBI, under the direction of the Special Agent in Charge Louie F. Allen, with developing the case.

The Government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Boxer, of the U.S. Attorney's Terrorism Unit, in Newark.

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Defense Counsel: George Yusca, Esq. Lawrenceville