Friend Of Boston Marathon Bomber Sentenced To Six Years In Jail

Dias Kadyrbayev, the friend of the now convicted Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, one of the people responsible of the deadly bombing of the Boston Marathon in 2013, has been sentenced to six years in prison, according to CNN. Attorney to Kadyrbayev, Robert G. Stahl, said about the judgement against his client,

“While we are, of course, disappointed that the court sentenced Dias to six years, rather than the twenty-six months already served, he fully accepts responsibility and the sentence imposed.”

Kadyrbayev was convicted on Tuesday for obstructing justice when he hid evidence during an investigation of Tsarnaev after the Boston Marathon bombing. Kadyrbayev was a student at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, with a revoked student visa. Stahl said about his client’s sentence.

“We are gratified that the court listened to our sentencing arguments and sentenced Dias based upon the law and the totality of the circumstances surrounding his conduct.”

Kadyrbayev pleaded guilty last year to the charges, as reported by the Inquisitr. Kadyrbayev had taken Tsarnaev’s backpack and computer out of his dorm room, hiding it from investigators. Part of the plea deal is for Kadyrbayev to be deported back to his native Kazakhstan after his sentence bas been served.

The U.S Attorney Carmen Ortiz of Massachusetts said about the case against Stahl.

“The concealment and destruction of evidence can have profound effects on the course of an investigation… Mr. Kadyrbayev knowingly concealed and disposed of critical evidence relating to the Boston Marathon bombing. He now faces the consequences of those actions – six years in federal prison, with deportation to follow.”

The attorney for Kadyrbayev had attempted throughout the trial to show that he was not involved with the plan to bomb the Boston Marathon. Stahl said about the sentenced against his client.

“From the beginning the government had pressed a sentencing enhancement under the guidelines related to terrorism, despite knowing that Dias is not a terrorist. Dias had no knowledge of the Tsarnaev’s plans or actions. After a long, hard-fought litigation that included motions to dismiss and a suppression hearing, the government finally recognized Dias’ limited involvement and agreed to today’s result.”

Tsarnaev was sentenced to death in April after being convicted on all thirty of his charges. Tsarnaev, along with his older brother, had planted bombs at the finish line of the Boston Marathon in 2013, which killed three people and wounded more than 200. Tsarnaev’s older brother, Tamerlan, was later killed during a deadly shootout with police.

[Photo credit: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images News]