U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon on Friday granted James Cromitie compassionate release from prison six months after she ordered his co-defendants’ release for similar reasons.
A man convicted in a post-9/11 terrorism sting was ordered freed from prison by a judge who criticized the
Hussain also worked with the FBI on a sting that targeted an Albany, New York, pizza shop owner and an imam that involved a loan using money from a fictitious missile sale. Both men, who said they were tricked, were convicted of money laundering and conspiring to aid a terrorist group.
Hussain attracted fresh attention in 2018 when a stretch limo crashed in rural Schoharie, New York, killing 20 people. Hussain owned the limo company, operated by his son, Nauman Hussain.
Nauman Hussain was convicted of manslaughter last year and is serving five to 15 years in prison.
Cromitie’s attorney, Kerry Lawrence, said Saturday he had not yet been able to reach his client, but that Cromitie’s family was very happy.
“I’m obviously thrilled that Mr. Cromitie will be released from prison, but still believe that his conviction was entirely the product of government entrapment,” Lawrence wrote in an email. “Seeing as he was hounded and manipulated by the government informant way more than any of … the other defendants who were previously ordered released, it would have been shocking if Judge McMahon didn’t grant our motion.”
Calls seeking comment were made Saturday to the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s office in New York City.
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