The four New York men accused in a foiled terrorist plot against Bronx Jewish centers and an upstate airbase all pleaded not guilty today.
Federal investigators said James Cromitie, David Williams, Onta Williams and Laguerre Payen -- all of Newburgh -- planned the violence, but the four all denied guilt at their arraignment in White Plains.
Authorities said they busted the alleged homegrown terrorists May 20 in dramatic fashion, catching them trying to plant what they thought were bombs outside two Bronx synagogues. Officials said the four also were planning that night to shoot a military plane from the Air National Guard Base at Stewart Airport using a Stinger missile.
The first three suspects submitted the pleas on their own, but Payen appeared confused on Wednesday, saying he didn't understand everything, particularly "the court stuff."
Assistant US Attorney Eric Snyder urged Judge Paul E. Davison not to be fooled by Payen. Snyder referred to recorded conversations of Payen that depict "a very different person" than the one who appeared in court today.
Snyder said in those conversations Payen spoke about his immigration status in a sophisticated manner.
But the suspect's attorney, Marilyn Reader, said her client cannot read or write English, adding that Payen is schizophrenic and bi-polar, and is currently taking medication for his disorders.
When arrested, Payen was "one step from being homeless," said Reader, who entered the plea on his behalf.
Even before the session began, handcuffed and wearing no belt, Payen's pants fell to his knees -- an odd moment during a serious time.
After the arraignment that lasted less than half an hour, a woman claiming to be a close family friend of David Williams called the federal case one of "entrapment," and said the FBI informant "played off of the needs" of these men.
She said David Williams has a younger brother in need of a liver transplant that will cost $25,000, adding that the informant promised to pay for the procedure. The woman also said the informant had already paid for some of Williams' outstanding court fees from other cases.
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The four men will return to court on Friday.
