Five members of the Jewish Defense League have entered guilty pleas to charges in an 11-count federal indictment charging conspiracy stemming from shootings and pipe-bombings against targets in the Bronx and Manhattan, according to a transcript of their pleas in the United States Attorney’s office made available today to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
The five defendants are Thomas Macintosh, 36, of Woodbury, N.J.; Steven Ehrlich, 21, San Francisco; Russel Kelner, 35 and Jeffrey Weingarten, 21, both of Brooklyn; and Steven Rambam, 18, who was a juvenile at the time of his arrest by the FBI and whose arrest was not reported at the time. Macintosh, described by the JDL as a convert, reportedly had been prepared to turn state’s evidence and be a witness for the prosecution. However, there was no trial because all five pleaded guilty.
The FBI arrested Ehrlich, Macintosh and Rambam in a car coming from New Jersey to New York last June 8. The arrest took place on Staten Island on charges of interstate transportation of explosive material which the FBI said was in the car.
Ehrlich came here from San Francisco during the last week in August for arraignment. He was freed Sept. 1 on $25,000 cash bond. Kelner, former JDL operations officer, and Weingarten were released on similar cash bonds after a hearing Aug. 19, the day the federal indictment was handed up. Rambam was rearrested in July on additional charges and released on $5000 cash bail and $45,000 collateral by Judge Lloyd MacMahon.
On Sept. 28, Judge MacMahon declared Rambam as having adult status and revised bail requirements for him, ordering posting of an additional $20,000 in cash, so that the bail was $25,000 in cash and $25,000 in collateral.
THE COUNTS AND THE TERMS
Ehrlich entered a plea of guilty Sept. 29 to Count 1 of the indictment, a count of conspiracy to transporting explosives illegally interstate. That count carries a maximum prison term of five years and up to $10,000 in fines. The four other JDL members entered their guilty pleas Nov. 1.
Kelner pleaded guilty to Count 2, charging he transported a 30-caliber rifle into New York on or about Feb. 24. That rifle was alleged to have been used to shoot into the Soviet residential complex in The Bronx. That count carries a term of up to five years and fines of up to $5000.
Rambam pleaded guilty to Count 8 of interstate transportation of explosives. The explosives–eight cans of black powder–were asserted to have been planned for use to damage Soviet property in New York. That count carries a prison term of up to 10 years and $10,000 fine. Weingarten pleaded guilty to Count 6, unlawful transportation into New York last March of a rifle from New Jersey, which is the subject of other counts in the indictment. Count 6 carries the same penalty as Count 2.
Macintosh pleaded guilty to Count 1 and Count 8. At the time of his guilty plea, he was understood to have agreed to cooperate with the prosecution. Since Rambam is under 22, being 18 at the time he entered his plea, his sentence may be up to six years, under the federal Youth Correction Act and he may he put into custody of the Attorney General. If he successfully completes his sentence, he will be entitled to a certificate easing the conviction, the JTA was told.
SENTENCING DATES SET
According to the transcript, bail was fixed for Maclntosh and the bail was posted. All five are at liberty on bail, pending appearances for sentencing. Ehrlich will appear for sentencing Nov. 29. Kelner and Weingarten will be sentenced Dec. 7. Rambam and Macintosh will be sentenced Dec. 15.
The fact that limited pleas were entered on the 11-count indictment indicated that Judge MacMahon may dismiss the other counts on which the five JDL members were arrested but this is a matter for Judge MacMahon to decide.
The indictment charged a conspiracy which included charges of shooting into the Soviet Mission to the United Nations and into the Soviet residence in The Bronx; an alleged pipe-bombing attempt at the Iraqi Mission to the UN; and an alleged pipe-bombing of a Gulf Oil service station.
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