Indian-born British businessman Hemant Lakhani was found guilty on Wednesday of trying to aid terrorists for selling a shoulder-launched missile to an informant posing as a militant seeking to attack the United States.Lakhani, 69, was found guilty of five criminal charges by a US District Court jury in Newark, New Jersey, that began deliberating on Tuesday.Lakhani was arrested in August 2003 after a two-year international sting operation and accused of trying to provide material support to terrorists, unlawful arms sales, smuggling and two counts of money laundering.His arrest was among the first terrorism arrests on US soil after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. US Authorities described him as a major arms dealer and the case as a major blow in the war against terrorism. Defense lawyers portrayed him as a hapless businessman caught in a setup.‘‘Today is a triumph for the Justice Department in the war against terrorism,’’ said US Attorney Christopher Christie.‘‘Mr. Lakhani was engaged in a scheme willingly, knowingly and anxiously to sell arms to be used against American citizens,’’ he said. ‘‘The evidence showed he was enthusiastic about what death and destruction might result.’’During the trial that began in January, prosecutors provided videotapes and taped telephone conversations of Lakhani making the deal with an undercover FBI informant posing as an Islamic militant. They said Lakhani spoke admiringly of Osama bin Laden and claimed his missiles could shoot down up to 15 airplanes. —Reuters
