Judge Denies Bail for Men in Synagogue Bomb Attempt

June 25 (Bloomberg) -- Bail was denied for three of four men accused of plotting to blow up New York synagogues and attack aircraft at a military base with heat-seeking missiles. The fourth wasn’t eligible for pretrial release because of his immigration status.

U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon in White Plains, New York, ruled on bail for James Cromitie, 44, David Williams, 28, and Onta Williams, 32.

“The court is also aware that the Government’s case may not be as ironclad as it appeared in the hours and days immediately after the defendants were arrested,” McMahon said in a ruling issued today. “Nonetheless, the court concludes that defendants Cromitie, Onta William and David Williams have failed to rebut the presumption and so they will remain on remand status.”

The three men and Laguerre Payen, 27, were arrested in May 2009 after planting the bombs in cars outside two synagogues in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, authorities said. Payen is Haitian and if released from jail would be turned over to immigration authorities.

Guided Missiles

The four men were indicted on charges that include conspiracy and attempted use of weapons of mass destruction in the U.S., conspiracy to use surface-to-air guided missiles to destroy and kill officers and employees at the New York Air National Guard Base located at Stewart International Airport in upstate New York. They face as much as life in prison.

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