[1/2] David Williams, one of four suspects arrested in an FBI sting operation, is escorted out of FBI offices in New York in this May 21, 2009 file photo.
The men to be released are: Onta Williams, David Williams and Laguerra Payen, who were three of what became known as the "Newburgh Four."
But Judge McMahon wrote that Cromitie was a small-time "grifter" who was broke and unemployed when he was enlisted in the FBI driven plot, who provided fake bombs to plant in exchange for $250,000 in the "jihadist mission."
Cromitie enlisted the other three men to serve as lookouts, the judge wrote.
The FBI invented the conspiracy," McMahon wrote.
Persons:
David Williams, Onta Williams, Laguerra Payen, James Cromitie, Colleen McMahon, Cromitie, Judge McMahon, McMahon, Rich McKay, Michael Perry
Organizations:
Chip, New, FBI, Reuters, U.S, Thomson
Locations:
New York, New York City, Newburgh, Atlanta