Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, Bin Laden;s son-in-law, convicted at NYC terror tri

USPA News - A federal jury in New York City on Wednesday convicted Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, a former spokesman for al-Qaeda and the son-in-law of Osama Bin Laden, of terrorism-related charges, prosecutors said. The jury unanimously found Abu Ghaith, 48, guilty on three terrorism-related counts, including conspiracy to kill Americans, conspiring to provide material support to al-Qaeda, and providing material support to al-Qaeda.

Each count carries a maximum term of 15 years in prison. According to the BBC, Abu Ghayth was captured in Jordan last year and brought to the United States. Sentencing was set for September 8. Abu Ghayth was the spokesman and senior advisor to al-Qaeda. He drew the attention of American officials after a series of videos were released that showed him praising the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States and promising there would be more forthcoming. "He was more than just Osama Bin Laden`s propaganda minister," Manhattan U.S. District Attorney Preet Bharara said after the verdict was announced. According to Bharara, Abu Ghaith was using his position in al-Qaeda`s hierarchy to persuade others to pledge themselves to the organization in their cause of murdering Americans. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said the verdict was a major milestone in the government?s efforts to pursue justice against those involved with the September 11 attacks, which claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people. "I can imagine no more fitting outcome and no stronger message to those who would harm our nation and its people," he said. Abu Ghaith is married to Bin Laden`s eldest daughter, Fatima. The founder and former leader of al-Qaeda, Bin Laden was killed by U.S. special forces in May 2011 at his hideout in Pakistan. He was responsible for orchestrating the September 11 attacks on the United States. As part of the 2001 terrorist attacks, nineteen al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four passenger planes before crashing two of them into the World Trade Center in New York and another into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. The fourth, United Flight 93, crashed into a field in Stonycreek Township near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Nearly 3,000 people were killed.