NOT GUILTY

By Anonymous Court Watcher

Today brought a remarkable result and a hard-fought victory for one (former) criminal defendant and the Federal Public Defender’s Office: a jury returned a verdict of not guilty on all counts against Harun Abdul-Hamid Yener. 

Mr. Yener, a 30-year-old Coral Springs resident, had been charged in a superseding indictment in connection with an alleged plot to bomb the New York Stock Exchange. The charges were as serious as they come, including attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction; attempting to use an explosive device to damage or destroy a building used in interstate commerce; and threatening to murder federal law enforcement officers. A conviction on these charges would have carried life-altering consequences—and a guidelines life sentence.

The defense centered on a theory of entrapment. That’s the principle that the government cannot induce a person to commit a crime he was not otherwise predisposed to commit—and then turn around and prosecute him for it. The trial team made the case that the conduct at issue originated with the government, not with Mr. Yener.

Mr. Yener was represented at trial before Judge Bloom by Assistant Federal Public Defenders Abby Becker and Victor Van Dyke. Mr. Van Dyke delivered an extraordinarily powerful closing argument, and the jury seems to have agreed with his impassioned presentation. The verdict is a testament to their preparation, advocacy, and unwavering commitment to their client and to the Constitution. This is a particular special win for Mr. Van Dyke, as this trial marks the end of his tenure at the FPD. He's about to begin a new chapter at Schlesinger Law Offices in Fort Lauderdale. 

This outcome is a powerful reminder of why the work of the Federal Public Defender’s Office matters. The presumption of innocence and the right to a vigorous defense are not abstractions. They are the safeguards that produced a just result in this case. Congratulations to Mr. Yener, Abby Becker, Victor Van Dyke, and the entire defense team on a tremendous and well-earned win.