Judge: Prosecutors in NY bomb plot don’t have to disclose payments to informant, for now

Judge says ‘no’ to defense request in NY bomb plot

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — A judge says prosecutors don’t have to disclose before trial any payments from a federal informant to four men accused of plotting to bomb New York synagogues.

Defense lawyers have suggested the men were lured into the plot with inducements ranging from cash to chicken dinners.

At a pretrial conference Friday, lawyer Vincent Briccetti demanded an accounting of any payments or promises of payments. But prosecutor Eric Snyder said that was not required before trial.

U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon agreed.

The four men are accused of plotting to bomb two Bronx synagogues and shoot down planes at an upstate Air National Guard base. They have pleaded not guilty and are being held without bail.