Youngest Defendant in Plot to Attack Islamberg Sentenced

One of the teen-age defendants accused of plotting an attack on a Muslim community in Delaware County will be 24 years old when he gets out of prison.

The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reports 17-year-old Nicholas Pheilshifter was sentenced to seven years in prison and a year on probation after pleading guilty in July to attempted criminal possession of a weapon as a terrorism crime.

He is one of four Western New York residents accused of planning an attack on Islamberg.  The teen had previously been unnamed, given his age.

19-year-old Vincent Vetromile, 20-year-old Brian Colaneri and 18-year-old Andrew Crysel have all pleaded guilty in the case as well.

Vetromile, of Greece, New York pleaded guilty to felony attempted criminal possession of a weapon.  Colaneri of Greece and Crysel of East Rochester each pleaded guilty to felony conspiracy.

Prosecutors say comments Pheilshifter made at school were passed along to authorities by a concerned student.

Officials say the fast action after learning about the plot directly prevented a loss of life at the religious compound near Hancock.

The community has been the target of planned attacks in the past and a search of the internet finds numerous postings claiming the enclave is a training location or otherwise has ties to terrorist organizations, allegations community leaders have been disputing for years.