Attorney General Eric Holder's Statement on Ali Al-Marri

"A short while ago, in an Illinois courtroom, Ali Saleh Kahlah Al-Marri pleaded guilty to conspiracy to provide material support to the al-Qaeda terrorist network. By entering into this agreement, al-Marri admitted that he worked for and provided material support to al-Qaeda with the intent to further its terrorism objectives and activities here in the United States.
"Without a doubt, this case is a grim reminder of the seriousness of the threat we, as a nation, still face. But it also reflects what we can achieve when we have faith in our criminal justice system and are unwavering in our commitment to the values upon which this nation was founded and the rule of law.
"Just days after taking the oath of office, President Obama directed me to lead an interagency review of the al-Marri case. At the time, al-Marri had been sitting in a naval brig in South Carolina for more than five years facing no charges.
"As a result of that review and an examination of the evidence gathered during the extensive investigation of al-Marri by the FBI and Justice Department prosecutors, we decided to charge al-Marri in federal court. In February, a federal grand jury in Illinois indicted al-Marri on two counts of providing and conspiring with others to provide material support to al-Qaeda.
"That led us to where we are today - the resolution of this case that will send al-Marri to prison for up to 15 years.
"There are many milestones we achieve today, not the least of which are –
--The conviction of an al-Qaeda sleeper agent captured in the United States;
-- The certainty that our criminal justice system can and will hold terrorists accountable for their actions, and;
-- The triumph of the exhaustive efforts of dedicated professionals at the Justice Department and many other agencies involved in this case.