One of the sick men accused of planning to attack a New York City synagogue sobbed as he was sentenced Wednesday after admitting to helping neo-Nazis buy illegal guns in 2022.
Matthew Marler, 24, wept in his mother's arms in the courtroom before being sentenced by Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Gregory Caro to 2 1/2 years in prison.
Mr Marler pleaded guilty to attempted weapon possession.
The crybaby, who was arrested along with his friend Christopher Brown two years ago, said he was “grateful” no one was hurt in the thwarted attack.
“I couldn't be more grateful that no one was hurt,” Marler told the court, before apologizing to his family, telling the court he had “let them down.”
Mr. Mahler, a Jewish man and the grandson of a Holocaust survivor, was arrested on November 19, 2022, when Mr. Brown was in possession of a weapon with a Nazi armband that had been recovered in his bag at the Long Terminal at Penn Station. He was arrested shortly after he was arrested on the Island Railroad platform, officials said. .
At the time of Maher's arrest, police seized a loaded handgun with an extended magazine and a bulletproof vest from his Upper West Side apartment.
Last year, Brown pleaded guilty to possession of a weapon as a terrorist offense and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Mr. Marler's lawyer, Gilbert Bayonne, made a last-ditch bid to avoid a prison sentence for Mr. Marler, who is autistic and has been diagnosed with PTSD, but the bid was quickly rejected by a judge.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said, “Matthew Marler used an encrypted messaging app to purchase illegal out-of-state firearms and extended magazines in a terrorist attack against our city's Jewish community. “We coordinated with the individual who attempted to use the weapon.” statement.
“The Manhattan Prosecutor's Office is holding accountable those who brought ammunition and illegal firearms into downtown Manhattan.”
