SC, Ala. sites look back Betty Ford honored 20 years till the next one Dream Chaser details
NEWS
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev

Friend of Boston bombings suspect pleads guilty

Doug Stanglin
USA TODAY
Courtroom sketch of Dias Kadyrbayev

Dias Kadyrbayev, a college friend of the chief suspect in last year's Boston Marathon bombings, pleaded guilty Thursday to impeding the investigation, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Boston said.

Kadyrbayev and Azamat Tazhayakov, 20, both from Kazakhstan, were accused of obstruction of justice and conspiracy for allegedly helping bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev cover up his involvement in the bombings that left three people dead and more than 250 injured.

At the plea hearing on Thursday, Kadyrbayev admitted that he removed a backpack containing emptied-out fireworks from Tsarnaev's dorm room several days after the attack.

Kadyrbayev's attorney, Robert Stahl, released a statement following the plea, explaining that his client "today stood and accepted responsibility for his actions" as he "made a terrible error in judgment for which he has paid dearly."

"His age, inexperience with our criminal justice system, and cultural differences as a foreign college student help provide context, but not an excuse for those actions," the statement said. "Today's plea was entered because Dias now understands he never should have gone to the dorm room; and he never should have taken any items from that room. So, today he formally accepted full responsibility for his actions and sincerely apologizes for his conduct."

Under the terms of the deal, Kadyrbayev — who faced up to 25 years in prison — would be sentenced to no more than 7 years. He would also be deported to Kazakhstan to serve out his sentence.

The judge in the case did not immediately rule on the plea agreement and set sentencing for November.

Prosecutors charged that after Tazhayakov and Kadyrbayev had determined that Tsarnaev, a fellow student at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, was a chief suspect in the bombings, they threw out a backpack and removed a laptop from Tsarnaev's dorm room.

Tazhayakov was convicted by a federal jury in Boston and will be sentenced Oct. 16. He could face more than 20 years in prison.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 21, is charged with bombing a public place and using a weapon of mass destruction resulting in death and could face the death penalty. Two pressure cookers exploded near the finish line of the race.

The attack took place on April 15, 2013, Patriot's Day, a major holiday in Boston highlighted by the running of the nation's most iconic marathon.

Prosecutors say Tsarnaev's brother, 26-year-old Tamerlan, was also involved in the planning and explosions.

On April 18, Kadyrbayev texted Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, telling him that a photo released by police showed a suspect that looked like Dzhokhar.

"LOL," Tsarnaev replied, according to a federal affidavit. "You better not text me ... come to my room and take whatever you want."

According to prosecutors, Kadyrbayev showed the text message to his friend Tazhayakov. Hours later, the two men went to Tsarnaev's dorm room. Prosecutors say Kadyrbayev removed Tsarnaev's backpack, which contained fireworks, and his laptop — and Tazhayakov supported the effort to protect Dzhokhar.

That night, prosecutors say, the Tsarnaev brothers killed Sean Collier, a police officer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In the early hours of April 19, Tamerlan Tsarnaev was killed in a shootout with police.

Dzhokhar was found, wounded and hiding in a boat, that day. He is being held without bail.

Featured Weekly Ad