Charles Cole is a jihadist terrorist and the target of a sting to stop his bombing plot.
History[]
Cole was in prison for armed robbery and rape; he was also suspected of a murder that he wasn't ultimately tried for. He converted to Islam in prison and shared the sentiments of another extremist, Arthur Jackson, agreeing with him to commit terrorist attacks when they both got out. Cole recruited Egyptian citizen Ali Hossam and American-Egyptian citizen Joe Darwish to his plans. He also became affiliated with Syrian-American citizen and virtual kidnapping conman Sam Ahmed, who went to the same mosque as Hossam and Darwish. Sam was relied on to get the funds for their prepared attack: a bombing at a Jewish synagogue and shelter in Washington Heights. Cole didn't involve Sam in the plot itself and kept him in the dark about what the money would be used for, but Sam deduced the group's intentions anyway.
When Sam was arrested for the virtual kidnappings, he became an NYPD informant to rat the others out. He approached Cole and demanded to be a part of the plot while recording their conversations for the police and providing them information on who the plotters were. Later, Cole was provided fake C-4, along with real blasting caps, by an undercover Bernard. Satisfied, Cole declared the operation a go and convened with Sam, Hossam, and Darwish at the synagogue, with Darwish arriving late. However, the police arrived and surrounded the car. Cole ordered Hossam and Darwish to detonate the bombs in their car, saying that they would die as martyrs, but the frightened Hossam and Darwish instead surrendered. Cole acquiesced and was also detained. However, another synagogue was bombed less than a minute after the arrests, revealing that Jackson had worked with his other cellmates to carry out their own terrorist plot, with Cole giving them the blasting caps that Bernard supplied to him.
Jackson and his accomplices were arrested shortly after Cole took a plea deal of attempted arson in exchange. As a result, he was sentenced to twelve years in prison. (L&O: "Great Satan")