New York terrorists: a cautionary tale for moving Gitmo detainees here

Richard Williams said that his 32-year-old nephew fell under the sway of dangerously radical Islamo-fascists while serving time on drug charges -- and that he became "brainwashed" after his mother died and his ex-wife fought him for custody of their child. "They played on his weaknesses and what was going on with his family," Richard said. "He was brainwashed and manipulated in the system."

Relatives and friends of the other three men charged in the horrific plot to blow up two Bronx synagogues and shoot down an Air National Guard plane said the men never expressed any interest in terrorism. But they all quickly developed a deep interest in Islam in jail.

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Williams' uncle -- who himself once served 10 years on a drug charge -- said he was familiar with prison converts to Islam. When Cromitie -- a lifelong jailbird -- last got out of prison two years ago, he similarly told stunned relatives in The Bronx that he had converted to Islam.

He announced that his new name was Abdul Rahman and that he was now living in Newburgh.

"He told me that he was a Muslim and that didn't eat pork anymore, and I told him, 'Get out of here!' " said his surprised mother, Adela Cromitie. "Why would he do something like that? He was raised Episcopalian."