Much to his disappointment, an extensive history of mental health issues did not work in the favor of Emanuel Lutchman in federal court Thursday. He was sentenced by Judge Frank Geraci, Jr. to 20 years in prison for plotting a New Year’s Eve machete attack at Merchants Grill in the name of ISIS.
Shortly after the sentencing, Lutchman turned angry and began shouting threats in Arabic. It was a drastic turn of events, because the defendant gave an emotional testimony and apology just moments before.
“It’s always difficult for us to determine the sincerity of a defendant at sentencing who says they’ve seen the light and realized the error of their ways,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Brett Harvey, “Mr. Lutchman, and with his reaction, gave us something to rebut that and clearly showed that it was 100 percent insincere."
Video evidence, a string of text messages and emails linked the 26-year-old to the Islamic State group back in 2015. Officials also said, that year, Lutchman initiated contact with a now-deceased member of ISIS in Syria. The FBI said it used paid informants to uncover the restaurant plot and take Lutchman to Wal-Mart on Hudson Ave. to purchase a ski mask, knives, a machete, and other supplies.
The defense argued the plot was clearly not sophisticated, and that Lutchman's mental state should clear him from a maximum sentence.
“The judge himself made the finding today that this was the real deal. So I don’t see any basis for saying this was exaggerated. The defendant would have done it,” Harvey said.
Lutchman, who has spent a number of years behind bars for various crimes, like robbery, has a two-year-old son. In a letter submitted before the sentencing, Lutchman said his “radical Islamic ideology” was left in the past.
“When you have those beliefs and you start to act on those beliefs, like Mr. Lutchman did, this is the end result,” Harvey said.
Lutchman will have 50 years of supervision after his release.
