Former Ft. Campbell Soldier Sentenced to Life in Prison After Conviction on Charges...

Former Ft. Campbell Soldier Sentenced to Life in Prison After Conviction on
Charges Related to Deaths of Iraqi Civilians

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A former Ft. Campbell, Ky.,
soldier was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Thomas B. Russell to life
in prison after being convicted on May 7, 2009, of charges arising out of the
rape of a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and the murder of the girl and her family,
Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division and Acting
U.S. Attorney Candace G. Hill of the Western District of Kentucky announced
today.

Steven D. Green, 24, was convicted by a federal jury in Louisville, Ky., on
all charged counts, including premeditated murder, aggravated sexual abuse,
felony murder, conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit aggravated
sexual abuse, use of firearms during the commission of violent crimes and
obstruction of justice. The jury that convicted Green said it was unable to
reach a unanimous verdict on whether the defendant should be sentenced to
death. Because the jury did not unanimously reach a decision on the death
penalty, the court sentenced Green to life in prison. Green was indicted by a
federal grand jury on Nov. 2, 2006.

Green was charged with the crimes following an incident that occurred on March
12, 2006, in and around Mahmoudiyah, Iraq. According to evidence presented at
trial, while manning a military checkpoint, Green and other fellow soldiers
discussed raping and killing Iraqis. Trial evidence showed that Green and
others then took off their uniforms, put on black clothing, left their post
and forced their way into the nearby home of the Al-Janabi family. Evidence
presented at trial proved that Green then took the mother, father and
six-year-old into a bedroom where he shot and killed them. In the living
room, Green and the other soldiers raped the 14-year-old and then Green
repeatedly shot her in the face and set her body on fire. Green then tried to
blow up the house, according to trial evidence, after which the soldiers
returned to their checkpoint. After committing the rape and murders, trial
testimony revealed that Green bragged to others that the experience was
"awesome."

"While the scars from these tragic crimes, including the senseless murder of
four innocent Iraqi civilians, cannot be erased by the jury's conviction and
sentence of Steven Green, we sincerely hope the victims' family may find some
solace in the United States' commitment to justice in this case," said
Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division. "The
defendant's brutal actions detailed at trial are an affront to the rule of law
and stand in stark contrast to the admirable conduct of the brave men and
women of the U.S. armed forces who serve our country with honor."

"Steven Green's conviction and sentence are the culmination of the hard work,
professionalism and dedication of the trial attorneys Marisa Ford, Jim
Lesousky, and Brian Skaret, and of the agents of the FBI and the Army's
Criminal Investigative Division. I am proud that the U.S. Attorney's Office
for the Western District of Kentucky could play a major role in bringing this
case to justice, particularly on behalf of the surviving victims of these
crimes," said Acting U.S. Attorney Candace G. Hill. "The jury's conviction
and sentence reflect the shocking nature of these crimes. The honorable
service in Iraq of thousands of this country's armed forces should not be
tarnished by this shameful event."

"Fortunately, the brutal and senseless crimes perpetrated in this case are
uncommon on the battlefield, but nevertheless, important to investigate and to
prosecute," said Assistant Director Kevin L. Perkins of the FBI Criminal
Investigative Division. "The FBI remains committed to working with our
military law enforcement partners to uncover any such crimes occurring
domestically or abroad."

"We sincerely hope that today's sentencing helps to bring the loved ones of
this Iraqi family some semblance of closure and comfort after this horrific
and senseless act," said Brigadier General Rodney Johnson, the Commanding
General of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command. "Our agents worked
tirelessly and shoulder to shoulder with the FBI and the attorneys. The
sentencing is a true testament to our commitment and dedication to bring
anyone who commits a crime while serving in the U.S. military to justice,
regardless of the circumstances."

Green was discharged from the U.S. Army in May 2006 and was prosecuted in U.S.
District Court under the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (MEJA), a
statute that gives U.S. courts jurisdiction to prosecute crimes committed
outside the United States by, among others, persons who served with the armed
forces but who are no longer subject to military prosecution. Green's
co-conspirators were prosecuted by military authorities under the Uniform Code
of Military Justice. Green, formerly stationed at Ft. Campbell and deployed
to Iraq while serving with the 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army, was
arrested by the FBI on June 30, 2006, on federal charges of murder and rape
based on MEJA.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation
Division. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marisa Ford and
Jim Lesousky of the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Western District of Kentucky
and Trial Attorney Brian Skaret of the Criminal Division's Domestic Security
Section.

SOURCE U.S. Department of Justice

U.S. Department of Justice, +1-202-514-2007, +1-202-514-1888 (TDD)