Pinellas Man Found Guilty Of Attempted Use Of Weapon Of Mass Destruction

Tampa, Florida – United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III announces that a federal jury today found Sami Osmakac (27, Pinellas Park) guilty of attempted use of weapons of mass destruction and possession of a fully automatic firearm. Osmakac faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 7, 2014.

“The jury’s verdict in this case represents another victory in our fight against terrorism, which remains our top priority,” said U.S. Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III. “Our success here is due in part to assistance from the Muslim community, which brought the defendant’s extremist views to the attention of law enforcement.”

Osmakac was indicted on February 2, 2012.

According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, on January 7, 2012, Osmakac attempted to use weapons of mass destruction, including a car bomb, grenades, and a suicide explosive, at two locations in the Tampa Bay area. Specifically, his intended targets were MacDinton’s Irish Pub, in the South Howard area of Tampa, and the Hard Rock Casino, in Tampa. Additionally, on January 7, 2012, Osmakac possessed a machinegun without the firearm being registered to him on the National Firearm Registration and Transfer Record.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sara C. Sweeney and Trial Attorney Clement McGovern from the National Security Division at the Department of Justice.