Shabazz
KINGSTON – Ismail Shabazz, the Kingston activist, who was charged
with illegal possession of firearms that he had purportedly planned to
supply to African liberation movements, was sentenced Wednesday to two
years in state prison.
Shabazz had sought to withdraw his plea in return for the two years in
prison; however, Justice Richard McNally, Jr., refused the request.
Shabazz was also sentenced to three years of post-release supervision.
The 63-year-old activist accepted a plea bargain on October 28, 2016
prior to trial on weapons charges.
The agreement mandated the two years in prison for one count of attempted
weapons sale.
He had originally been indicted on 16 counts, for which he could have
been sentenced to 35 years in prison.
Shabazz was arrested on June 26, 2015 after a year-long probe involving
an undercover federal informant. He was originally charged with illegally
selling six firearms.
