MovieChat Forums > The Newburgh Sting (2014) Discussion > So...was it entrapment?

So...was it entrapment?

posted 9 years ago by alonevoice
11 replies | jump to latest

I think that seeing both sides of the "reporting"--that which was done by the media at large and that which was done by the documentary--I think it was certainly entrapment and a bit of hysteria.

However, I don't think that this case is a simple "entrapment or not" proposition. I think that it's very true that the thought of "jihad" would never have entered these guys' minds if it weren't for the informant. In fact, the informant could have easily said "bank robbery" instead of jihad and the result would have been the same. These ex-cons were "down for whatever" if they thought there was something in it for them. But again, I don't think they would have collectively decided to pull off any kind of coordinated stunt if it were not for the informant.

The purpose of an informant, as far as I thought, was to get the scoop on a planned crime and inform the police about it. Not set up a crime and inform the police about it (!).

Where it gets complicated is that these guys certainly belong away from society. Even with their low IQs, they presented a danger to us all. They were more than willing to end peoples' lives for nothing more than personal gain. And they had a history (and fantasies) of criminal behavior.

Socioeconomic factors aside, they were entrapped by the FBI informant and trapped in their own ignorance.

[–] ivanmaizie 9 years ago

That is your opinion. But it is FACT that these thugs were willing and WANTED to murder innocent people via acts of terrorism. That is undisputed FACT. I am glad the FBI dangled the carrot and caught some inferior thugs in the process.

[–] matt-whittall 9 years ago

so were clear, your position is that wanting to do a crime is equivalent to actually doing a crime?

you capitalized the word wanted once, and fact two times. that indicates that you really wanted to stress this element of your argument correct?

there is another movie about thought crime its called minority report, perhaps you should watch it.

[–] SweetD19 9 years ago

Bravo

[–] tango09212 9 years ago

They didn't want to do a crime they just wanted out of their situation. And money for all of them was a way out and the government prayed on that weakness what's worse was the way the government used these guys and lied to the public about who they were and what they were doing.

[–] iosefgeorgia 9 years ago

You're out of date about "informants". They used to collect incriminating information on planned crimes. Now the FBI/CIA, etc use them to insert fake information to incriminate otherwise innocent but gullible fools. CIA "rendition" (torture) does not extract confessions - it inserts confessions. Get it?

[–] mburns955 9 years ago

As a conservative I was skeptical but if this isn't entrapment I don't know what is;
As a NYer, I know it's BS as soon as I see chuckle schumer's face

[–] Limpio 9 years ago

This was entrapment. Makes me sick. WTF?

[–] cmaac 9 years ago

I agree with you partially, they have government tapes of one of them saying, "I don't want anyone to get hurt, I am only for property damage." It seems this original dude is pushing the informant off until he mentions the $250,000 then things changed. Those dudes would have have willing collected to do anything like that if no money was involved. But then the government did not introduce the money into the situation the informant did on his own I would not even blame the government just the informant trying to stay relevant and creating a case. But I think the documentary did a good job also showing the importance of the operations too, in bring up the Boston marathon bombings and why they do it. I am on the fence but I do feel they deserved to serve time.

[–] baconbit 9 years ago

The very simple answer is NO. Giving someone the opportunity to commit a crime...even going along with it is NOIT entrapment. This is just the typical bullsh** HBO crap. HBO has gone so far to the left, they don't even CARE about beign taken seriously anymore.

[–] Telemensch_Kinuchas 9 years ago

Yes, it is entrapment. These men were not terrorists to begin with. There was no proof they were ever a terrorist cell in or out of prison before the FBI informant got hold of them. Per the videos taken by the FBI informant, they seemed to be more swayed by money than jihad. Cromitie probably was more into the jihad part of it, but the other three either wanted money to help a sick relative, start a business, or for one guy, just enough money so he could eat regular.

As the mother of one of the "terrorists" said, the government created the terrorist cell, the govt bought and made the bombs, the govt gave them the stinger missile, the govt told them the targets, the govt or govt informant drove them to pick up the bombs, to the Air Natl Guard base, to the synagogue. The govt made it seem like this was a terrorist plot created inside a Newburgh mosque.

The govt came in like Hollywood gangbusters putting on a big show about how they were keeping America safe...from something they created. In the meantime, while the govt was pouring millions into these sting operations, real terrorists were plotting to bomb the Boston Marathon.

These guys are guilty of crimes for sure since they agreed to do the things the govt wanted them to do, but it was just bad luck that the FBI informant picked that town. Had he went somewhere else, they would not have been part of a lousy sting operation. They're mostly guilty of being stupid...they had a chance at plea bargains, but didn't take them.

The real terrorists here are the FBI and JoD because they set these things up in order to keep us afraid, to keep us terrorized. The people at synagogue were in no danger of terrorism other than the kind the govt manufactured. The people of Newburgh were in no danger of a jihadist plot at a local mosque other than the one the govt lied about.

[–] PopeyeTheSailor 8 years ago

You nailed it!!!! I'm not religious, but A *beep* men!!!!