• 6:55 - 10:16
THC 41: Trevor Aaronson | Terror Factory: Inside The FBI’s Manufactured War on Terrorism
Newburgh Four Case, Financial Incentives for FBI Informants
The Newburgh Four case involved four African-American converts to Islam who were targeted by an aggressive informant to bomb synagogues in the Bronx. The lead defendant was a mentally ill Walmart stocker, and the informant provided all transportation, money, and bomb-making materials, even offering a $250,000 inducement. FBI Director Robert Mueller cited this as a success, despite the defendants being unable to commit crimes without government intervention. Informants often receive over $100,000 per case, creating a significant financial incentive to manufacture plots.