Woman Sentenced to 16 Years for Teaching Bomb Making Said Osama bin Laden Was Her Hero

A New York woman who considered Osama bin Laden her "hero" was sentenced to more than 16 years in prison for teaching others to make bombs on Wednesday.

September 11, 2021 will mark the 20th anniversary of the U.S. terror attacks that bin Laden masterminded, resulting in nearly 3,000 deaths and bringing down New York City's original World Trade Center. Noelle Velentzas, a 33-year-old from Queens, "extended praise" for the attacks and idolized bin Laden as she educated another woman about building bombs that they hoped would be used in a new terrorist attack, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Authorities say Velentzas and co-defendant Asia Siddiqui had in-depth discussions about making bombs with an undercover federal agent who they knew as "Mel" as an extended investigation of the plot took place between 2013 and 2015. When their homes were searched after they were arrested in 2015, "Jihadist literature," instructions on making car bombs, propane gas tanks and weapons including machetes were discovered.

Both defendants pleaded guilty to charges of teaching and distributing information pertaining to the making and use of a weapon of mass destruction with the intention of committing a federal crime in August 2019. Siddiqui, also of Queens, was sentenced to 15 out of a possible 20 years in prison in January 2020.

Judge Sterling Johnson described Velentzas as the "moving force" and the "brains" behind the operation before sentencing her to 198 months behind bars on Wednesday, according to The New York Post.

Velentzas reportedly took responsibility for her actions during the sentencing hearing, while also saying that Islamophobia and "the sentiment that my religion needs to be defended" played a role in her choice to take part in the plot. She said that she would no longer participate in violence after consulting with her "higher self" and now plans to "rebuild" her life.

"The defendant expressed her support for foreign terrorist organizations like al-Qaeda and the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham by learning how to build bombs and other explosive devices and targeting members of law enforcement for terror," acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Mark J. Lesko said in a statement. "Today's sentence imposes a just punishment on the defendant for her planned horrific crimes."

"As part of her plan goal to wage violent jihad, Velentzas and her co-defendant Asia Siddiqui researched and taught each other how to construct bombs to be used on American soil against law enforcement and military targets," said Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers of the DOJ's National Security Division. "With the sentence imposed by the court, Velentzas has been held accountable for her crimes."

In addition to lavishing praise on bin Laden, Velentzas is also said to have praised Mohamad Shnewer, who is currently serving life in prison for a failed terror plot to murder soldiers at New Jersey's Fort Dix Army base.

Newsweek reached out to Velentzas' defense attorney for comment.