Superseding Indictments Against Zazi's Conspirators

A superseding indictment has been placed against two men who were involved in a plot with Najibullah Zazi to engage in terrorism and mass casualty attacks in New York City.

The new charges mirror those that Zazi entered a guilty plea upon: conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction, conspiracy to commit murder in a foreign country and providing material support for a terrorist organization.

The men, Adis Medunjanin, 25, and Zarein Ahmedzay, 25, were charged in a new indictment with conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction, conspiracy to commit murder in a foreign country and providing material support for a terrorist organization.

The charges come three days after a former high school classmate of the men, Najibullah Zazi, pleaded guilty to the same charges. Mr. Zazi, who had been the only man publicly charged with participating in the subway bombing plot, has been cooperating with the federal authorities.

Mr. Medunjanin and Zarein Ahmedzay — who were arrested in January — had originally faced charges related to a trip they took with Mr. Zazi to Pakistan, where Mr. Zazi said he was recruited and trained by Al Qaeda.

They are scheduled to be arraigned on the new charges in United States District Court in Brooklyn on Thursday. They face life in prison.

Previously, the two men were indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit murder in a foreign country and receiving military training from a terrorist organization. Further, Ahmedzay had been charged with lying about his trip to Pakistan. The new indictment incorporates those prior charges.

Once again, we see the benefit of being the first to cop a plea - with the detrimental results to fellow conspirators (who may face harsher charges as a result). Sometimes it pays to be the first to spill the beans on a plot.

UPDATE:
Both men have entered not guilty pleas.