American wanted in US on terrorism charges sentenced in China for making drugs

Man wanted on US terror charges sentenced in China

BEIJING — An American man wanted in the United States on terrorism charges has been sentenced in China for making illegal drugs, a court official said Saturday.

Justin Franchi Solondz was given three years in prison Friday, the official at the intermediate court in Dali city, Yunnan province said. He gave his family name as Zhao.

It was unclear what drugs Solondz was found guilty of producing.

The FBI office in Seattle lists Solondz among its “most wanted.” Its Web site says the 2006 charges are related to his alleged role in 2001 with the Earth Liberation Front, a loose collections of radical environmentalists.

The site says Solondz is accused of having a role in the destruction of a horticulture center at the University of Washington, as well as the destruction of several buildings in Oregon.

It was not clear whether Solondz, 30, will be deported to face the terrorism charges.

A spokesman with the U.S. Embassy in Beijing said Saturday he was not able to confirm his deportation.

Calls to the FBI in Seattle and Washington were not immediately returned Saturday.