In a stunning victory for the defense a jury found the first Guantanamo Bay detainee to be tried in a civilian court not guilty on all but 1 of 285 counts.

Ahmed Ghailani had been tried for his role in the 1998 bombings of the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.

He was convicted of a single count of conspiracy to destroy US buildings and property. He faces a minimum of 20 years behind bars.

He was acquitted of more serious charges—including 224 counts of murder, one for each victim who died in the attacks.

As the jury delivered its verdict, Ghailani occasionally smiled but displayed little emotion.

Defense attorney Peter Quijano speaking to reporters following the verdict said “at the start of this trial we believed that Ahmed was truly innocent of all these charges, please understand that we still believe he is innocent of all these charges.”

The jury’s ruling is a serious setback for the Obama administration’s proposed plans to try self-proclaimed 911 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammad and other Guantanamo Bay detainees in civilian courts. Government prosecutors who sat poker faced during the verdict said nothing as they left the courtroom.

Sentencing is scheduled for early next year.