Woman pleads guilty to having bombs in home

The woman will testify against her husband, who is charged in a plot to bomb Islamic centers.

By LEANORA MINAI, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published February 27, 2003

TAMPA -- The wife of a Seminole podiatrist accused of plotting to blow up mosques and Islamic centers pleaded guilty Wednesday to possessing bombs.

Kristi Goldstein, 29, will likely spend three years in prison for keeping five bombs in the townhouse she shared with her husband, Robert Goldstein. Her sentencing date has not been set.

In exchange for the plea, she agreed to testify against her husband. Two counts of lying to authorities were dropped.

"We feel that we're making progress in resolving the case," said Steve Cole, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Tampa. "Two defendants have pled, and we're working toward resolving the case with Dr. Goldstein."

Robert Goldstein, 38, is in federal custody on charges he planned an attack at an Islamic center in St. Petersburg before the anniversary of Sept. 11.

Authorities discovered 37 bombs and 25,000 rounds of ammunition at the Goldsteins' home when he was arrested last August.

His wife called for help after they fought, and deputies with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office responded to their home at the Townhomes of Lake Seminole at 9209 Seminole Blvd.

Prosecutors say Goldstein planned to use the bombs and ammunition to damage or destroy 50 Islamic centers and mosques in the bay area and elsewhere in Florida.

The other defendant who agreed to cooperate with prosecutors is Temple Terrace dentist Michael Hardee, who was arrested in October along with Kristi Goldstein. He pleaded guilty in October to a conspiracy charge, among other charges.

Kristi Goldstein's charge carries a 10-year maximum prison sentence, but prosecutors recommended a three-year sentence.

The Florida office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, known as CAIR, expressed concern Wednesday about the plea deal with Kristi Goldstein.

"Unfortunately, the case was not treated with the seriousness required by the nature of the charges or the potential loss of life that would have resulted had the terrorist plot been carried out," said Altaf Ali, CAIR's executive director in Florida.

Robert Goldstein's attorney, Myles Malman, said Kristi Goldstein's role proves his client has a mental condition.

"He's suffering from severe mental illness, and she enabled him by possessing guns and explosives in the house," Malman said Wednesday.

Kristi Goldstein remains free on $100,000 bail.

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