Remember the Liberty City Seven? The moniker was attached because this so-called "gang" of ne'er-do-wells conducted their alleged terrorist activities out of a warehouse in Liberty City, a low-income neighborhood in northeastern Miami. This rag-tag group of mostly unemployed oddballs dubbed themselves Seas of David. They preached a mix of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. They were known around their neighborhood for practicing martial arts and wearing the Star of David. Not exactly the kind of "terrorist" group capable of doing much more than holding up the local liquor store -- if they could get their hands on any weapons. They didn't have the money to buy any. However, it was 2006, close to the election, and the Bush administration was anxious to find terrorists here in the U.S. in order to defend its use of warrantless surveillance by showing how well it worked. It was a pitiful display.
The FBI was able to "infiltrate" the group and gave them money to get "equipment." It appears they bought cell phones and a digital camera, but at the time of their arrest no weapons were found. It was the FBI's informant who suggested they plan to blow up the Sears Tower in Chicago. Only one had ever even been to Chicago. The pathetic gang became skeptical of their "infiltrant" so, to prove his connections, he held an al-Qaeda "swearing in" ceremony, the videotape of which became the government's key piece of evidence that this "gang that couldn't shoot straight" was a true al-Qaeda cell.
After their arrest, then-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales made a big deal in his press conference. He pointed out that they requested materials, equipment, and funding. He neglected to mention that it was all suggested and supplied by the FBI. I don't think anyone believes this was anything more than entrapment for political exploitation.
Last December, after 9 days of deliberation, a jury dismissed the charges against one defendant but deadlocked on the charges against the other 6. A mistrial was declared. Last week a second trial was held. After 13 days of deliberation, this also ended in mistrial. They government says it will go for another trial. Your tax dollars at work.