The terrorists travelled to Afghanistan in Spring 2001. They were arrested in Lackawanna, New York, near Buffalo, New York in September 2002.
One of the members, Muktar Al-Bakri, sent an obscure e-mail describing the plot "Big Meal" which would have used explosives.
Investigators found a rifle, a telescopic sight, and a cassette tape that investigators say that asked when played, "asks Allah to give Jews and their enablers (U.S.) a black day" in Al-Bakri's house.
All six pleaded guilty in court to terrorism related charges. They were Mukhtar Al-Bakri, Sahim Alwan, Faysal Galab, Shafal Mosed, Yaseinn Taher, and Yahya Goba. Another member of the Lackawanna Cell, named Jaber Elbaneh, is still at large.
Kamal Derwish, the man who recruited the Buffalo six and was the alleged ringleader of the group's cell, was assassinated by the CIA in Yemen.
Yahya Goba and Mukhtar al-Bakri received ten-year prison sentences. Yaseinn Taher and Shafal Mosed received eight-year prison sentences. Sahim Alwan received a nine and a half year sentence. All sentences were for single counts of "providing support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization". In discussing the plea bargain agreements, US prosecutors commented the defendants had cooperated with federal terrorism investigators, providing detailed information on Al-Qaida membership, training, and methods.