Judge tosses terror convictions after high court ruling

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal judge has vacated the convictions of a Virginia man serving life in prison on terrorism-related charges and ordered him released from custody.

Wednesday’s ruling comes after Masoud Khan argued that the definition of “crime of violence” used to convict him in 2004 was unconstitutionally vague in light of two Supreme Court rulings, one in 2015 and one in April.

Khan is one of four men accused of participating in a “Virginia jihad network” that used paintball games in woods near Fredericksburg as a means of training for holy war. Several group members travelled to Pakistan after the Sept. 11 attacks with the goal of joining the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Last month, the judge ordered the release of another defendant, Seifullah Chapman, a former Marine serving a 65-year sentence.