More charges laid against alleged US sniper

SERIAL sniper John Allen Muhammed was yesterday hit with federal charges punishable by the death penalty.

The 20-count complaint charges Muhammad, 41, with discharging a firearm as part of an extortion scheme in the deaths of seven people in Maryland and the wounding of three others, in Maryland and Virginia.

US Attorney Paul McNulty of Virginia said if a firearm is used to carry out violence in an extortion scheme, the crime is punishable by the federal death penalty.