• United States v. Holy Land Foundation (HLF) - Selected Government Exhibits

- Akram Musa Abdallah

 

- Mohamad Fouad Abdallah

- Rahmat Abdhir

- Nuradin Abdi

- Samir Abdoun

- Abdow Abdow

- Luqman Abdullah et al.

- Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab

- Ahmed Omar Abu Ali

- Hassan Abu-Jihaad

- Babar Ahmad

- Attiqullah Sayed Ahmadi

- Hazam Ali Ahmed

- Mohamed Ibrahim Ahmed

- Farida Goolam Mohamed Ahmed

- Sadeq Naji Ahmed

- Syed Haris Ahmed & Ehsanul Islam Sadequee

- Syed Ahsan

- Hor Akl and Amera Akl

- Abdurahman Alamoudi

- Hasan Saddiq Faseh Alddin

- Adarus Abdelle Ali

- Amen Ahmed Ali et al.

- Abdul Tawala Ibn Ali Alishtari & Brian Anderson

- Mohammed Alkaramla

- Carlos Eduardo Almonte and Mohamed Mahmood Alessa

- Ali Mohammed Abboud Almosaleh

- Abdullah Alnoshan & Khalid Fadlalla

- Yehia Ali Ahmed Alomari et al.

- Ali Amirnazmi

- Ryan Anderson

- Amir Hossein Ardebili

- Yassin Muhiddin Aref & Mohammed Mosharref Hossain

- Sami Al-Arian

- Abdelhaleem Ashqar et al.

- Fawzi Mustapha Assi

- Bagram Asllani

- Anwar al-Awlaki

- Hasan Ali Ayesh & William Miller

- Mohamed Junaid Babar

- Sajid Badat

- Jamal Al-Badawi & Fahd Al-Quso

- Haji Bagcho

- Dhiren Barot et al.

- Narseal Batiste et al.

- Sabri Benkahla

- Bilal Adullah Ben Benu

- Soliman Biheiri

- Moussa Bitar

- Viktor Bout

- Daniel Patrick Boyd et al.

- Barry Walter Bujol, Jr.

- Yasser Khareddin Bushnaq

- Cedric Carpenter & Lamont Ranson

- Talal Chahine et al.

- Ali Asad Chandia & Mohammed Amjal Khan

- Yi-Lan Chen

- Zachary Adam Chesser

- Fayez Damra

- Fawaz Damra

- Bassam Darwishahmad

- Russell Defreitas et al.

- Wessam Al-Delaema

- Saubhe Jassim Al-Dellemy

- Ahmed Muhammed Dhakane

- Mohammad Amin Doudzai & Nadia Naemm

- Ghassan Elashi et al.

- Ali Khalil Elreda et al.

- Mohamad Elzahabi

- Cabdulaahi Ahmed Faarax and Abdiweli Yassin

- Foad Farahi

- Moneer Farhat

- Baktash Fattahi et al.

- Iyman Faris

- Michael Finton

- Adam Gadahn

- Shahrazad Mir Gholikhan

- Wagdy Mohamed Ghoneim

- Mohamed Ahmed Hassan Ghorab

- Yahya Goba et al.

- Ronald Allen Grecula

- Madhatta Haipe

- Zayead Christopher Hajaig & Rabea Hajaig

- Abdel-Jabbar Hamdan

- Amjad Mustafa Hamed

- Bassam Hisham Hamed et al.

- Omar Hammami

- Mourad El Hamyani

- Muthanna al-Hanooti

- Mokhtar Haouari

- Naveed Afzal Haq

- Chekri Mahmoud Harb et al.

- Malik Nidal Hasan

- Sabirhan Hasanoff and Wesam El-Hanafi

- Syed Hashmi

- Hawo Mohamed Hassan

- Kamal Said Hassan

- Marwan Othman El-Hindi et al.

- Hassan Hodroj et al.

- Richard David Hupper

- Mohammed Kamel Ibrahim & Sampson Lovelace Boateng

- Atef Hasan Ismail Idais

- Islamic American Relief Agency et al.

- Ayman Ismail

- Abdifatah Yusuf Isse and Salah Osman Ahmed

- Javed Iqbal & Saleh Elahwal

- Arwah Jabar

- Mohammed Mansour Jabarah

- Darrick Jackson

- Farshid Jahedi

- Kevin James et al.

- Maher Amin Jaradat

- Tariq Javid

- Abdel Baset Jawad et al.

- Ahmad & Musa Jebril

- Monzer Al Kassar et al.

- Betim Kaziu

- Hassan Saied Keshari et al.

- Abdullah Ahmed Khadr

- Lafi Khalil & Ghazi Ibrahim Abu Mezer

- Muhammad Khalil

- Omid Khalili

- Haji Juma Khan

- Raja Lahrasib Khan

- Hossein Ali Khoshnevisrad

- Jimmy Lee King

- Karim Koubriti & Ahmed Hannan

- Sadek Mohamad Koumaiha et al.

- Mahmoud Youssef Kourani

- Robert Kraaipoel et al.

- Shamsha Laiwalla

- Hemant Lakhani

- Colleen LaRose

- Samuel Lewis

- John Walker Lindh

- Mahmoud Maawad

- Mac Aviation Group et al.

- Daniel Maldonado

- Sam Malkandi

- Noureddine Malki

- Nabil Al-Marabh

- Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri

- Mohamad Mustapha Ali Masfaka

- Majid Al-Massari

- Abu Hamza al-Masri et al. 

- Shaker Masri

- Muhammad Masood

- Farhoud Masoumian et al.

- Youssef Samir Megahed & Ahmed Abellatif Sharif Mohammed

- Tarek Mehanna 

- Hakimullah Mehsud

- Ahmed Merzouk

- Brano Milovanovic et al.

- Mohammed Al-Moayad & Mohammed Zayed

- Nader Modanlo et al.

- Omer Abdi Mohamed

- Baz Mohammad

- Khan Mohammed

- Mazen Mokhtar

- Jacques Monsieur & Dara Fotouhi

- Jehad Mostafa

- Seyed Mahmoud Mousavi

- Karim Moussaoui

- Zacarias Moussaoui

- Nasir Ali Mubarak

- Muhamed Mubayyid et al.

- Ahmed Al-Mughassil et al.

- Abdulhakim Mujahid Muhammed

- Khamal Muhammad

- Abduwali Abdukhadir Muse

• United States v. Akram Musa Abdallah (Lying about HLF fundraising):

- Indictment (Added 8/23/08) Akram Musa Abdallah (a.k.a. Abu Saiaf)  of Mesa, Ariz. was charged with making false statements related to his involvement in fund-raising activities for the Holy Land Foundation for Relief & Development. According to DOJ, "Abdallah knowingly and willfully made a false material statement when he represented to FBI agents that he was not involved in fund raising activities for the Holy Land Foundation. The indictment alleges that he was involved in fund-raising activities on their behalf in the Phoenix metropolitan area between 1994 and 1997."

-  DOJ Press Release on Indictment (Added 8/23/08)

-  Plea Agreement (Added 5/8/09) In May 2009, Abdallah pled guilty.

-  DOJ Press Release on Guilty Plea (Added 5/8/09) 

-  DOJ Press Release on Sentencing (Added 3/08/10) Akram Musa Abdallah (a.k.a. Abu Saiaf)  of Mesa, Ariz. was sentenced to 18 months in prison for making false statements related to his involvement in fund-raising activities for the Holy Land Foundation for Relief & Development. According to DOJ, "During interviews with the FBI, Abdallah denied that he was involved in fund raising activities for the HLF. In fact, between approximately 1994 and 1997, Abdallah was involved in numerous fund raising activities, including collecting donations and organizing, facilitating and coordinating fund raising events on behalf of the HLF in the Phoenix metropolitan area."

• United States v. Mohamad Fouad Abdallah (Threatening blogger Debbie Schlussel):

- Information (Added 10/4/08) In April 2008, Mohamad Fouad Abdallah was charged in Michigan federal court for emailing threats to blogger Debbie Schlussel. Abdallah wrote: "HEY WHITE BITCH JEW.FUCK YOU.HEZBOLAAH IS AWESOME. WE WILL NEVER DIE BITCH.WERE GONNA BLOW YOU UP" (sic) and "FUCK YOU AND YOU WILL SOON BE RAPED AND WILL DIE." The threats were in response to an article Schlussel posted "about 2 Arab men."

-  Plea Agreement (Added 10/4/08) In June 2008, Abdallah pled guilty to one count of interfering with federally protected activities. In October 2008, Abdallah was sentenced to eight months in prison. In sentencing Abdallah, U.S. District Judge Marianne Battani said, "I find it abhorrent."

• United States v. Rahmat Abdhir (San Jose Jemaah Islamiyah support case):

- Indictment Rahmat Abdhir is a U.S. citizen living in San Jose, California and the brother of Zulkifli Abdhir. In September 2003, the U.S. government designated Zulkifli Abdhir as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist due to his leadership role in Jemaah Islamiyah; the U.S. government believes he played a role in several bombings in the Philippines. In August 2007, Rahmat Abdhir was charged with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, providing material to terrorists, contributing goods and services to a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (his brother), and false statements. As the DOJ press release states, "Zulkifli Abdhir and Rahmat Abdhir communicated with one another between the United States and Philippines, often in code to disguise the nature of their activities, as Zulkifli Abdhir engaged in battles with Philippine troops and evaded capture. Among other things, they discussed items that Zulkifli Abdhir wanted his brother to send him in the Philippines from the United States, including money and accessories for firearms, Insignia two-way radios, backpacks, and knives. According to the indictment, Rahmat Abdhir shipped requested items to his brother in the Philippines using various aliases for the sender and the recipient."

- DOJ Press Release on Indictment

- Final Order re: Pre-Trial Detention A judge ordered Abdhir held pending trial. 

- 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Ruling Upholding Pre-Trial Detention (Added 2/15/08) The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the pre-trial detention order in the case against Rahmat Abdhir, a U.S. citizen living in San Jose, California. Abdhir -- the brother of Specially Designated Global Terrorist Zulkifli Abdhir - was indicted in August 2007 on a number of charges, including conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists. The appeals court concluded that "there is clear and convincing evidence that Abd Hir poses a grave danger to the Philippines."

• United States v. Nuradin Abdi (Columbus mall plot; material support to Al-Qaida):

- Indictment In August 2004, federal prosecutors indicted Columbus, Ohio resident Nuradin Abdi for providing material support to Al-Qaida, as well as obtaining and using fraudulent travel documents. As DOJ notes, "the indictment alleges that on April 27, 1999, Abdi applied to the Immigration and Naturalization Service - now known as the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - for a travel document, wherein he concealed his destination by representing that he intended to visit Germany and Saudi Arabia for the purpose of 'Umrah (Holly[sic] - Mecca) and visit my relative,' when he allegedly planned to travel to Ogaden, Ethiopia, for the purpose of obtaining military-style training in preparation for violent jihad. Abdi allegedly sought training in radio usage, guns, guerilla warfare and bombs."

- DOJ Press Release on Indictment

- Remarks of Attorney General John Ashcroft on Indictment Ashcroft commented that "Abdi, along with admitted al Qaeda operative [Iyman] Faris and other co-conspirators, initiated a plot to blow up a Columbus area shopping mall."

- Statement of Facts This document states, "In spring of 2003, Iyman Faris, an individual subsequently convicted of a federal terrorism crime, advised agents of the FBI that an individual by the name of Nuradin planned to shoot up a shopping mall in the Columbus, Ohio area with an AK-47. Agents subsequently identified Nuradin as the defendant, Nuradin Abdi."

- Opposition of the United States to Defendant's Motions In Limine (#104) to Exclude Computer Images, Dissertation Text 'Pillar of the Preparing for Jihad," "Mall Bomb" and "Missile Plot" Statements and Physical Evidence According to this filing, photos found on Abdi's computer "depict a variety of Jihadi images, such as Usama bin Laden, with writing in the photo stating "'God is great [in the green flag depicted in the photo], We love you Usama, America digs its grave with its right hand because Usama has paralyzed its left.'"

- Government's Consolidated Responses to Defendant's Motion in Limine to Dismiss on Newly-Discovered Grounds In this document, the government argues that Abdi "attempts to transform Counts 1 and 2 from conspiracies whose objective was to provide material support and resources to terrorism and al Qaeda through a broad array of conduct into narrower conspiracies whose sole objective was to provide himself for military training in Ethiopia in order to prepare for violent jihad."

- Government's Response to Motion of Defendant to Suppress All Statements Allegedly Made by the Defendant and All Evidence Seized in Violation of the Fourth Amendment This filing provides more information on the discussions between Faris and Abdi about the mall plot. According to Faris, Abdi told him that “things were heating up and we need to do something.” When asked should be done, Abdi replied, “take an AK-47 to a mall and start shooting.” According to the document, "Faris told the FBI that he thought he had talked Mr. Abdi out of it, but had not had recent contact with Mr. Abdi."

- Government's Proposed Exhibit List (Added 7/30/08) This filing lists the exhibits DOJ planned to introduce.

- Opinion and Order This ruling denied a number of pre-trial motions filed by Abdi.

- Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals Opinion This document notes that "at the same time he was meeting with Abdi, Faris was operationally active for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the so-called mastermind of the 9/11 attacks." Moreover, it reveals that the FBI discovered "telephone activity from Abdi’s phone number to approximately forty other numbers connected to FBI terrorism cases."

- Plea Agreement Abdi pled guilty to providing material support to terrorists and agreed to serve ten years in jail.

- DOJ Press Release on Sentencing On November 27, 2007, Abdi was formally sentenced to ten years in prison.

- NEFA Foundation "Target: America" Report "The Columbus Mall Plot"

• United States v. Samir Abdoun (Immigration, passport, and social security fraud; met 9/11 hijackers):

- Indictment (Added 7/28/08) In February 2001, Samir Abdoun was indicted in the Southern District of California for using a false passport, using false entry documents, using false immigration identification, making a false statement in an immigration matter, and social security fraud.

- ICE Fact Sheet on Deportation (Added 7/28/08) According to ICE, "On December 31, 2004, ICE deported an Algerian man who used a false passport to enter the United States and later met with two of the 9/11 hijackers in San Diego prior to their attacks on the Pentagon. Samir Abdoun, 38, was escorted from the United States to Algeria by ICE officers. Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, ICE special agents learned that Abdoun had previously met with hijackers Nawaf al Hazmi and Khalid al Mihdhar, two of the four 'muscle' terrorists aboard American Airlines Flight 77 when it was flown into the Pentagon. ICE agents arrested Abdoun on Sept. 22, 2001, after agents identified him as a fugitive in hiding who had been ordered deported by a federal immigration judge in 1999. Abdoun told agents he had lived for a time with four San Diego men, all of whom were housemates of Hazmi and Mihdhar. One of the roommates, Mohdar Abdullah, introduced Abdoun to Hazmi and Mihdhar. These four individuals were arrested shortly after the 9/11 attacks as material witnesses in the Pentagon investigation. Border Patrol agents had initially arrested Abdoun in November 1998. The ensuing investigation revealed that Abdoun had entered the country illegally by claiming to be a French citizen and by presenting a false passport when he first arrived in Los Angeles. Abdoun was placed in removal proceedings. However, he failed to appear in court. A judge subsequently ordered Abdoun removed from the country. After he was located in September 2001, Abdoun was convicted on criminal charges related to immigration, passport, and Social Security fraud. Abdoun was sentenced July 23, 2002 to time served and three years supervised release, and then was transferred to ICE custody to be deported."

• U.S. v. Abdow Abdow (Lying to FBI; link to Somali jihad probe):

- Complaint (Added 10/19/09) According to a JTTF agent, Abdow M. Abdow, a U.S. citizen of Somali descent, lied to the FBI when questioned about renting a car and driving to Las Vegas with four other individuals. The FBI's investigation of Abdow is linked to a broader probe of approximately 20 U.S.-based individuals who traveled to Somalia to wage jihad. (See the cases of Abdifatah Yusuf Isse and Salah Osman Ahmed and Kamal Said Hassan)

- Indictment (Added 10/19/09) Abdow was indicted in October 2009 and charged with making false statements.

- Plea Agreement (Added 5/12/10) Abdow Munye Abdow pled guilty in Minneapolis federal court to lying to the FBI during the investigation into the recruitment of young men in the U.S. to train with and fight for extremist groups in Somalia. As DOJ noted, "Abdow admitted that on October 8, 2009, he obstructed an FBI investigation by making false statements to agents. Specifically, Abdow told agents that although other men accompanied him in a rental car from Minnesota to Las Vegas and back in early October, he did not know their names, nor did he know who paid for the rental vehicle. In truth, four men were traveling with Abdow in a rental car at that time. They drove from Minnesota to San Diego, where three of the men were dropped off. Abdow knew the names or nicknames of all of the men accompanying him as well as the name of the person who paid for the rental vehicle. In fact, the car was rented with a debit card issued to Abdow himself."

- DOJ Press Release on Plea Agreement (Added 5/12/10) 

 

• U.S. v. Luqman Abdullah et al. ("Ummah" membership):

- Complaint (Added 10/30/09) Federal prosecutors in Detroit charged Luqman Abdullah and 10 others "with conspiracy to commit several federal crimes, including theft from interstate shipments, mail fraud to obtain the proceeds of arson, illegal possession and sale of firearms, and tampering with motor vehicle identification numbers." According to DOJ, "Abdullah was the leader of part of a group which calls themselves Ummah ('the brotherhood'), a group of mostly African-American converts to Islam, which seeks to establish a separate Sharia-law governed state within the United States. The Ummah is ruled by Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin, formerly known as H. Rapp Brown, who is serving a state sentence in USP Florence, CO, ADMAX, for the murder of two police officers in Georgia...Abdullah has espoused the use of violence against law enforcement, and has trained members of his group in use of firearms and martial arts in anticipation of some type of action against the government. Abdullah and other members of this group were known to carry firearms and other weapons." Moreover, "At one location, four suspects surrendered and were arrested without incident. Luqman Ameen Abdullah did not surrender and fired his weapon. An exchange of gun fire followed and Abdullah was killed. An FBI canine was also killed during the exchange."

- DOJ Press Release on Complaint (Added 10/30/09)

- FBI Press Release on Arrest (Added 10/30/09) The FBI announced that "Mujahid Carswell (aka Mujahid Abdullah) was taken into custody by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, without incident" on October 29, 2009.

- Office of the Wayne County Medical Examiner (Added 2/02/10) The Office of the Wayne County Medical Examiner determined that Luqman Abdullah was shot 21 times during the FBI's October 2009 attempt to arrest him on an array of charges, including conspiracy to commit theft from interstate shipments and mail fraud. Following the raid, DOJ reported that "Abdullah did not surrender and fired his weapon. An exchange of gunfire followed and Abdullah was killed. An FBI canine was also killed during the exchange."

• U.S. v. Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab (Attempt to down transatlantic flight with PETN explosives):

- Complaint (Added 12/29/09) 23-year-old Nigerian national Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was charged with attempting to destroy a Northwest Airlines aircraft on its final approach to Detroit Metropolitan Airport on Christmas Day. A preliminary FBI analysis found that the device contained PETN, a high explosive. According to DOJ, “Interviews of all of the passengers and crew of Flight 253 revealed that prior to the incident, Abdulmutallab went to the bathroom for approximately twenty minutes, according to the affidavit. Upon returning to his seat, Abdulmutallab stated that his stomach was upset, and he pulled a blanket over himself. Passengers then heard popping noises similar to firecrackers, smelled an odor, and some observed Abdulmutallab’s pants leg and the wall of the airplane on fire. Passengers and crew then subdued Abdulmutallab and used blankets and fire extinguishers to put out the flames. Passengers reported that Abdulmutallab was calm and lucid throughout. One flight attendant asked him what he had had in his pocket, and he replied ‘explosive device.’”

- DOJ Press Release on Complaint (Added 12/29/09)

- Indictment (Added 01/07/10) Christmas day bomb plotter Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was charged in Michigan federal court in a six-count indictment. The charges include attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction and attempted murder within the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States.

- DOJ Press Release on Indictment (Added 01/07/10)

- Summary of the White House Review of the December 25, 2009 Attempted Terrorist Attack (Added 01/11/10) Following the failed Christmas day plot to detonate an explosive device onboard flight 253, President Obama ordered Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism John Brennan to conduct a complete review of the terrorist watchlisting system. The preliminary review found that “the U.S. government had sufficient information to have uncovered and potentially disrupted the December 25 attack – including by placing Mr. Abdulmutallab on the No Fly list – but analysts within the CT community failed to connect the dots that could have identified and warned of the specific threat.” Further, “the Intelligence Community leadership did not increase analytic resources working on the full AQAP threat.”

- EMS Report (Added 02/03/10) According to the EMS report, Northwest Flight 253 bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab "pushed one unknown substance out of a syringe onto a stitch of clothing containing an unknown powder. The result was an explosion" in his lap, which caused burns to his hands, thigh, and genitalia.

- Statement of Jasper Schuringa (Added 02/03/10) A statement proffered by Dutch passenger Jasper Schuringa, who subdued Northwest Flight 253 bomber Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, has been released. According to his statement, after he heard a bang and saw smoke, Schuringa removed Abdulmutallab’s “clothes and put the fire out with water. I took…him to first class…He was shaking and didn’t say anything. The crew gave me plastic cuffs and I cuffed him with crew’s help.” 

- Images of the PETN Underwear Bomb (Added 02/07/10) The NEFA Foundation is releasing images of the PETN underwear bomb that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab attempted to detonate aboard a Northwest flight on Christmas Day. ABC News was the first to release images of the device, which Abdulmutallab was given in Yemen. Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula has issued an official communique claiming responsibility for the failed attack.

- Attorney General Holder Letter to Sen. McConnell (Added 02/09/10) In a letter to Senator Mitch McConnell, Attorney General Eric Holder stated that he “made the decision to charge” the Christmas bomber “with federal crimes…with the knowledge of, and with no objection from, all other relevant departments of the government. On the evening of December 25 and again on the morning of December 26, the FBI informed its partners in the Intelligence Community that Adbulmutallab would be charged criminally, and no agency objected to this course of action.” Further, according to Holder, “recently” Adbulmutallab “has provided additional intelligence to the FBI that we are actively using to help protect our country.”

- Senate Intelligence Committee on the Attempted Attack on Northwest Flight 253 (Added 5/24/10) The Senate Intelligence Committee found 14 intelligence failures leading up to the attempted Christmas Day attack aboard Northwest Airlines Flight 253 over Detroit, including problems with terrorist watchlisting, and a failure to identify, connect, and disseminate intelligence. Senator Bond commented, "Unfortunately, there is no longer any doubt that major intelligence failures allowed the Christmas Day bomber to almost turn our airplanes into deadly weapons once again. We cannot depend on dumb luck, incompetent terrorists, and alert citizens to keep our families safe. It is critical we make changes to prevent these types of intelligence failures in the future.”

 - Abdulmutallab - Autobiography (Added 5/24/10) Abdulmutallab authored this autobiography. 

• United States v. Ahmed Omar Abu Ali (Material support to Al-Qaida; plotted to kill President Bush):

- Indictment (Added 12/20/07)

- Superseding Indictment (Added 12/20/07) According to the superseding indictment, "Between in or around September 2002 and on or about June 9, 2003, defendant ABU ALI discussed with Coconspirator #2 and Coconspirator #4 plans to assassinate President of the United States George W. Bush. The tactics discussed for conducting the assassination included (1) an operation in which multiple snipers would shoot the President; and (2) a suicide bombing operation. Defendant ABU ALI agreed to carry out the assassination of the President."

- DOJ Press Release on Return to U.S. (Added 12/20/07) In February 2005, Abu Ali returned to the U.S. from Saudi Arabia, where he had been detained.

- Government's Position on Pretrial Detention (Added 12/20/07) According to this filing, "In joining al-Qaeda, it was the defendant’s intent to become a planner of terrorist operations like Mohammed Atta and Khalid Shaykh Muhammad, well known al-Qaeda terrorists associated with the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001."

- DOJ Press Release on Conviction (Added 12/20/07) On November 22, 2005, a jury "unanimously found Abu Ali, age 24 of Falls Church, Virginia, guilty of (1) conspiracy to provide material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization (al-Qaeda); (2) providing material support and resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization (al-Qaeda); (3) conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists; (4) providing material support to terrorists; (5) contribution of services to al-Qaeda; (6) receipt of funds and services from al-Qaeda; (7) conspiracy to assassinate the President of the United States; (8) conspiracy to commit air piracy; and (9) conspiracy to destroy aircraft." Moreover, "the evidence at trial included evidence that Abu Ali had joined an al-Qaeda cell in Saudi Arabia; that he received training from members of the cell in weapons, explosives, and document forgery from an al-Qaeda cell in Saudi Arabia; plotted with senior al-Qaeda operatives to personally carry out the assassination of the President; engaged in a conspiracy to hijack and destroy civilian airliners in a scheme substantially similar to the September 11, 2001, attacks; and researched nuclear power facilities in the United States at the behest of a senior al-Qaeda operative."

- Sentencing Order (Added 12/20/07)

 - Sentencing Transcript (Added 7/29/09) According to this March 29, 2006 transcript of Abu Ali's sentencing hearing, Abu Ali "was the perfect recruit to establish a clandestine sleeper cell within our midst. And he was delighted to have been welcomed into al-Qaeda." Further, "he planned to return to the United States, establish a clandestine al-Qaeda cell, probably...in the national capital area, and perpetrate deadly attacks..."

- DOJ Press Release on Sentencing (Added 12/20/07) On March 29, 2006, Abu Ali was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

- Omar Abu Ali v. Ashcroft: Memorandum Opinion (Added 12/20/07) This document states, "Petitioner Ahmed Abu Ali ('Abu Ali') is a citizen of the United States who, through his parents, has filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus against several officials of the United States ('respondents' or 'United States') challenging his ongoing detention since June 2003 in a prison of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia allegedly at the behest and ongoing supervision of the United States." The ruling notes that the U.S. "insists that a federal district court has no jurisdiction to consider the habeas petition of a United States citizen if he is in the hands of a foreign state, and it asks this Court to dismiss the petition forthwith." In response, the court found "that a citizen cannot be so easily separated from his constitutional rights."

- Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals: Opinion (Added 6/7/08) In November 2005, Ahmed Abu Ali was convicted in Virginia on a number of charges, including providing material support to Al-Qaida, stemming from his involvement in a plot to assassinate President Bush. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Abu Ali's conviction, ruling, "we are satisfied that Abu Ali received a fair trial, though not a perfect one, and that the criminal justice system performed those functions which the Constitution envisioned for it." However, the court ordered that Abu Ali be resentenced because "the court abused its discretion when imposing the sentence," deviating from the federal sentencing guidelines that called for life imprisonment.

• United States v. Hassan Abu-Jihaad (Former U.S. Navy sailor; material support to terrorists):

- Indictment In March 2007, Abu-Jihaad was indicted on terrorism and espionage charges. Abu-Jihaad -- who served aboard the U.S.S. Benfold and held a SECRET clearance -- allegedly emailed Babar Ahmad classified information on the movements of a U.S. Navy battle group tasked with targeting Al-Qaida and discussed “the battle group’s perceived vulnerability to terrorist attack." Ahmad is a British citizen indicted in Connecticut on an array of charges, including providing material to terrorists and money laundering conspiracy. According to prosecutors, “Ahmad was the leader of a terrorist support cell in London.” He served as the webmaster of the Azzam Publications websites, which included azzam.com, azzam.co.uk, qoqaz.net, qoqaz.co.uk., webstorage.com/~azzam, and waaqiah.com." Federal prosecutors allege that Azzam Publications “was established and operated to recruit individuals to be mujahideen and to solicit and raise funds and assistance for jihad, including for the Taliban and Chechen mujahideen…”

- Department of Justice Press Release on Indictment (Added 3/5/08)

- Department of Justice Press Release on Arrest (Added 3/5/08) Abu-Jihaad was arrested on March 7, 2007 in Arizona.

- Affidavit of FBI Special Agent David Dillon According to this filing, the document Abu-Jihaad sent to Ahmad stated "that the battle group was scheduled to pass through the Straits of Hormuz on April 29, 2001, at night, under a communications blackout, and explicitly described the group’s vulnerability to a terrorist attack: 'Weakness: They have nothing to stop a small craft with RPG etc, except their Seals' stinger missiles.'"

- FBI Interviews The FBI conducted a series of interviews with Abu-Jihaad's former roommate in Arizona, Derrick Shareef, who has pled guilty to plotting an attack on an Illinois shopping mall. Shareef discussed how Abu-Jihaad radicalized him and how the two men considered attacking a U.S. military facility in California.

- Prosecution Exhibits 1-3 The prosecution released emails between Abu-Jihaad and Azzam Publications. In one email, Abu-Jihaad attempts to confirm receipt of his order for "Russian hell 2000," a jihadist video featuring Chechen attacks on Russian soldiers.

- Prosecution Exhibits 4-7 In an email to Azzam Publications, Abu-Jihaad states that he is serving a "Kuffar nation." And an individual from Azzam Publications urges Abu-Jihaad to continue his "psychological warefare [sic]."

- NEFA Senior Investigator Evan Kohlmann's Expert Witness Report (Added 3/5/08) This report provides extensive information on the Azzam Publications websites. As Kohlmann writes, "between approximately the years of 1996 and 2002, Azzam Publications reigned as the undisputed top mujahideen propaganda site on the Internet, featuring jihad training manuals, interviews with Al-Qaida leaders and associates, and the stories of many fallen jihadi 'martyrs.'"

- Azzam Publications: Frequently Asked Questions (Added 3/5/08) To supplement NEFA Senior Investigator Evan Kohlmann's expert witness report in the Hassan Abu-Jihaad case, the NEFA Foundation is providing a historical document that provides still further insight into Azzam Publications: a Frequently Asked Questions page from Azzam.com that answers questions such as "what is Azzam Publications?", "Who funds Azzam Publications?", and "How can I help Azzam Publications?" This document was not entered as an exhibit during trial.

- Defense Exhibits 1-6 The defense attempts to demonstrate that there is a slew of open-source information publicly available on the U.S.S. Benfold and its movements.

- Defendant's Memorandum in Opposition to the Govenment's Motion in Limine Seeking the Introduction of Certain Evidence According to this document, Abu-Jihaad and his roommate Derrick Shareef "discussed attacking a military recruiting station in Phoenix, Arizona" and "discussed the idea of attacking a military base in San Diego with a sniper-like attack."

- Defendant's Memorandum in Support to Suppress FISA-Derived Evidence Abu-Jihaad argued that evidence gathered by the government under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) was illegal.

- Judge's Decision on FISA-Derived Evidence (Added 1/24/08) A judge rejected a defense motion that evidence gathered by the government under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) was illegal. Federal judge Mark Kravitz asserted that the Patriot Act's balance "between an individual's important interest in privacy and the Government's legitimate need to obtain foreign intelligence information remains reasonable and one that complies with the Fourth Amendment." Kravitz also commented on a recent decision in Mayfield v. United States, noting, "it is not at all clear why the Mayfield court held FISA unconstitutional on its face."

- Department of Justice Press Release on Conviction (Added 3/5/08) A federal jury in New Haven, Connecticut convicted former U.S. Navy member Hassan Abu-Jihaad for providing material support of terrorism and disclosing previously classified information relating to the national defense. As the DOJ press release notes "the evidence at trial...included court-authorized wiretap recordings, during which Abu-Jihaad used coded conversation to refer to jihad; admonished others not to speak openly about jihad over the phone or on the Internet because it was 'tapped'; and discussed having conversations with associates using a shredder and after frisking them for electronic components. The calls played for the jury also included Abu-Jihaad’s use of the terms 'hot meals' and 'cold meals' in reference to his current and former ability, respectively, to provide inside information or intelligence about potential U.S. military targets."

- Defendant's Motion for New Trial (Added 10/5/08) In March 2008, a federal jury in New Haven, Connecticut convicted former U.S. Navy member Hassan Abu-Jihaad for providing material support of terrorism and disclosing previously classified information relating to the national defense. Abu-Jihaad's attorneys have filed a motion requesting a new trial, arguing that "through the evidence introduced at trial, the Government was able to demonstrate that the Defendant had the motive and opportunity to commit the crimes charged in the indictment. However, what the Government did not prove was that he actually did commit the charged offenses." His attorneys also asserted "that the admission into evidence of graphic tapes concerning Mujahideen Fighters and deceased Matyrs [sic] severely prejudiced the jury and prevented the Defendant from receiving a fair trial."

 - Judge's Ruling Overturning Material Support Conviction (Added 3/5/09) In March 2008, a federal jury in New Haven, Connecticut convicted former U.S. Navy member Hassan Abu-Jihaad for providing material support of terrorism and disclosing previously classified information relating to the national defense. While U.S. District Judge Mark Kravitz upheld Abu-Jihaad's conviction for disclosing classified national defense information, he overturned the material support conviction. He focused on the language in the material support statute in explaining his decision: "the Government's theory of guilt...was that by disclosing national defense information to Azzam, Mr. Abu-Jihaad was, in effect, making himself available to terrorists for the purpose of killing U.S. nationals. That is, by providing information alone to Azzam - an act that was not directly prohibited by § 2339A - Mr. Abu-Jihaad provided personnel- that is, Mr. Abu-Jihaad himself - to Azzam, knowing that he or his assistance would be used to prepare for, or carry out, the killing of U.S. nationals. That theory of guilt puts a strain on the language of the statute. For if the Government's argument were accepted, an individual who provided a terrorist organization with, say, weapons - perhaps by selling them at market price - would also be deemed to have provided the organization with personnel - namely, the gun dealer himself. Of course, one can imagine situations where an individual makes both himself and others available to terrorist organizations and also provides the organizations with weapons, money, or other tangible resources. But that is not invariably the case. That is, merely providing an organization with a resource, even a prohibited resource, is not necessarily the same thing as providing personnel to prepare for or carry out the prohibited purposes of the statute through some form of coordinated or joint action. For if that were the case, then much of the definition of 'material support or resources' would be entirely redundant; providing weapons, explosives, or anything else on the list would also automatically constitute the provision of personnel as well. To be sure, context and facts matter. Yet, it is context and facts that are entirely missing in this case." 

- U.S. Government Sentencing Memorandum (Added 3/31/09) In arguing for the maximum sentence for former U.S. Navy sailor Hassan Abu-Jihaad federal prosecutors wrote, "By leaking classified information about U.S. Navy ship movements and outlining their perceived vulnerabilities to attack, Hassan Abu-Jihaad was trying to help foreign terrorists replicate the bombing of the U.S.S. Cole. It is hard to say which aspect of his crime is the most serious. Abu-Jihaad betrayed the trust his country placed in him by granting him access to classified information, when he released it to a website that advocated violent jihad against the United States. He betrayed the trust of his fellow sailors aboard the Benfold and other ships in the Constellation battle group, when he tried to expose them to an attack by ambush. And he betrayed his oath as a U.S. sailor, when he forsook the national security of the United States in favor of those who would engage in terrorist violence against the United States. Hassan Abu-Jihaad is a traitor, and he should be sentenced accordingly."

- DOJ Press Release on Sentencing (Added 4/6/09) In April 2009, Abu-Jihaad received the maximum possible sentence of ten years in prison for providing classified information regarding the movements of a U.S. Navy battle group to Azzam Publications

- NEFA Foundation "Target: America" Report "The Illinois Shopping Mall Plot" As noted above, Abu-Jihaad's former roommate in Arizona, Derrick Shareef, has pled guilty to plotting an attack on an Illinois shopping mall. Abu-Jihaad played a role in his radicalization and the two men considered attacking a U.S. military facility in California.

• United States v. Amen Ahmed Ali et al. (Transmitting secret defense information; Moayad links):

- Indictment (Added 4/19/08) In September 2006, a grand jury in Fresno, California indicted Amen Ahmed Ali of Bakersfield, Mohamed Al-Rahimi of Bakersfield, and Ibrahim A. Omer of Fort Worth "on charges relating to the acquisition and transmission of secret defense information and the export of stolen and sensitive military equipment." Specifically, "the indictment alleges that on multiple occasions, between June 25, 2005 and Aug. 31, 2006, Ali received secret defense documents from a government undercover agent. He then transmitted them to the Republic of Yemen, both by fax transmission and by courier. In addition, Ali...is charged with conspiring with Ibrahim A. Omer...to ship military items to Yemen, the export of which is restricted under federal law...Ali is also charged with conspiring with Mohamed Al-Rahimi, 62, of Bakersfield, to receive stolen government property which was also sent to Yemen." Additionally, during court proceedings, prosecutors revealed that Ali possessed contact information for Mohammed al-Moayad, who was convicted in New York for providing material support to Hamas and Al-Qaida.

- DOJ Press Release on Indictment (Added 4/19/08)

- Government Filing re: FISA-Derived Evidence (Added 4/19/08) This government filing informs the court that it intends to enter "information obtained and derived from electronic surveillance conducted pursuant to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 (FISA)..."

• United States v. Hazam Ali Ahmed (Felon in possession of firearm; JTTF probe):

- Indictment (Added 12/21/09) According to the testimony of an FBI agent, Knoxville convenience store operator Hazam Ali Ahmed, indicted for being a felon in possession of two firearms, "referred to jihad" and asked a confidential source "if he would be interested in joining jihad. He stated that he was connected to al- Qaeda, that he had worked for them for several years. He wanted the informant to join al-Qaeda." Further, he told the informant that he planned to wait "until his son reached the age of seven" before launching an attack at a shopping mall.

• United States v. Mohamed Ibrahim Ahmed (Material support to Shabaab al-Mujahideen):

- Indictment (Added 3/16/10) Mohamed Ibrahim Ahmed -- who previously lived in Sweden and is thought to be an Eritrean citizen -- was indicted in NY federal court for providing material support to Shabaab al-Mujahideen. In April 2009, he allegedly trained for jihad, to include learning bombmaking skills, at a camp in Somalia. He also possessed bombmaking instructions, purchased an AK-47, and donated funds to Shabaab.

• United States v. Farida Goolam Mohamed Ahmed (Illegally crossed border; federal watch list):

- Statement by Customs and Border Patrol Commissioner Robert Bonner (Added 7/27/08) CBP Commissioner Robert Bonner stated, "at CBP, we identify potential terrorists, if not every day, almost every other day...Let me mention a couple of examples of some more recent, alert work by CBP personnel." He continued, "just two weeks ago, on July 19th, as a result of alert efforts of CBP Border Patrol Agent Luis Rocha, an individual named Farida Goolam Mohamed Ahmed was arrested at the McAllen, Texas, airport. Ahmed, originally from Pakistan, was traveling on a South African passport with several pages missing and was about to board an airplane to New York. She had traveled from Johannesburg, South Africa, to London to Mexico City, and apparently illegally crossed the border near McAllen, Texas."

- Congressman Ron Paul Press Release (Added 7/27/08) According to this press release by Congressman Ron Paul, Ahmed was on a federal watch list.

• United States v. Babar Ahmad (Azzam Publications webmaster; material support to terrorists)

- DOJ Press Release on Arrest (Added 12/20/07) In August 2004, British authorities arrested Babar Ahmad on an arrest warrant and criminal Complaint issued in Connecticut.

- Complaint (Added 12/20/07) Ahmad, a jihadist webmaster, allegedly conspired to provide material support to terrorists. According to federal prosecutors, "AHMAD, through Azzam Publications, operated a series of pro-jihad (Muslim holy war) web sites via an Internet Service Provider (ISP) located in the State of Connecticut. The two main Azzam Publications web sites were www.azzam.com, utilizing ISPs in Nevada and Connecticut, and www.qoqaz.net, which is operated from outside of the United States. Postings on the web sites described the need for Muslims to engage in violent attacks against infidels, appealed for financial support and provided instructions on how to enter Islamic war zones. The web sites also provided detailed instructions for sending money or other support to a specific official of the Taliban."

- Indictment (Added 12/20/07) The indictment charges that Ahmad "provided, and conspired to provide, material support and resources to persons engaged in acts of terrorism in Afghanistan, Chechnya and elsewhere. Specifically, AHMAD provided, through the creation and use of various internet websites, email communication, and other means, expert advice and assistance, communications equipment, military items, currency, monetary instruments, financial services and personnel designed to recruit and assist the Chechen Mujahideen and the Taliban, and raise funds for violent jihad in Afghanistan, Chechnya and other places."

- Affidavit in Support of Extradition (Added 12/20/07) This document notes that Ahmad was "in possession of a document which concerned authentic battle group plans of a U.S. naval battle-group operating in the Straits of Hormuz in April, 2001." The document was seized from AHMAD in December, 2003, by British authorities and the information thereon has been confirmed to be legitimate by U.S. Navy personnel. The document specifically describes the battle-group's vulnerability to a terrorist attack, and provides specific examples on how the ships might be attacked." The document was allegedly provided by former U.S. Navy sailor Hassan Abujihaad, who has been indicted on terrorism and espionage charges.

- Crown ProsecutionService Press Release on Police Brutality Charge (Added 8/13/10) The U.K. Crown Prosecution Service announced "that four officers of the Metropolitan Police Service's Territorial Support Group should be charged with causing actual bodily harm to Babar Ahmad during his arrest on 2 December 2003." During his arrest, he "suffered a number of injuries during that arrest, including heavy bruising to the head, neck, wrists and feet." Ahmad has been indicted in Connecticut for conspiring to provide material support to terrorists.

• United States v. Attiqulah Sayed Ahmadi (Felon in possession of firearm; immigration violations; Hekmatyar ties):

- Indictment (Added 7/28/08) In March 2002, Attiqulah Sayed Ahmadi was indicted in California for being a felon in possession of a firearm (a semi-automatic rifle and pistol).

- Superseding Indictment (Added 7/28/08) In June 2003, Attiqulah Sayed Ahmadi was also charged with unlawful procurement of citizenship.

- Government's Response and Opposition to Defendant's Motion to Suppress Fruits of Search and Seizure (Added 7/28/08) While searching Ahmadi's residence, "agents...seized a photograph which depicts Ahmadi holding the semi-automatic rifle, as well as a videotape with a date stamp of March 21, 2001, which depicts Ahmadi shooting the semi-automatic rifle in the Imperial County Desert."

- Government's Response and Opposition to Defendant's Motion to Compel Discovery and For Leave to File Further Motions (Added 7/28/08) This document details an encounter between Sheriff's deputies/U.S. Border Patrol and a group of ten men, including Ahmadi, who "were firing high powered pistols and assault rifles in an isolated area near the U.S./Mexico border" on January 30, 2000.

- Statement of Facts (Added 7/28/08) According to this filing, "agents seized Ahmadi's telephone/address book which had two telephone numbers for Gulbideen Hekmatyar, the founder of Hezb-i-Islami/Gulbuddin (HIF)." Hekmatyar is a Specially Designated Global Terrorist with alleged ties to Al-Qaida. Further, agents "found literature and newspapers in Ahmadi's garage regarding Hekmatyar, which included the newspaper Shahadat (martyrdom), the official paper of HIF. In Ahmadi's taxi cab, agents found a photo album which depicts Ahmadi, at an unknown age, aiming a RPG...and a larger anti-tank bazooka. Several of these photographs appear to be taken in Afghanistan in or about 1987 (during the two-year period in which Ahmadi claimed he was traveling to Pakistan to get married) and depicts mujahideen fighters with tanks, and downed armored vehicles and helicopters." What's more, agents "seized five audio cassette cases, one audio cassette, and one videotape cassette of the lectures of Sheikh Abdullah El-Faisal...who was convicted in February 2003 in the United Kingdom of three counts of inciting and encouraging others to 'murder persons unknown.'"

- Judgment (Added 7/28/08) In April 2004, Ahmadi pled guilty to both counts and was sentenced to time served.

• United States v. Sadeq Naji Ahmed (False statements; Bin Laden "supporter," former TSA screener):

- DOJ Press Release on Conviction (Added 4/10/08) In May 2005, Dearborn, Michigan resident Sadeq Naji Ahmed was convicted for making false statements to the Office of Personnel Management. The DOJ press release notes, "the evidence presented at the two day trial showed that on October 3, 2002, while a TSA screener at the Detroit Metro airport, Mr. Ahmed made false statements on a security background investigation form. The evidence demonstrated that he falsely stated that he had never had a security clearance suspended when in fact he had his security clearance and access to classified information suspended in 2001 while he was a member of the United States Air Force at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. He was also found guilty of falsely stating that he had not left a job under unfavorable conditions when, in fact, he left the Air Force because, among other things, he made statements in support of Usama bin Laden; that he was neither for nor against the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center; that the United States deserved the September 11, 2001 attacks; that he would not fight with the U.S. military if the U.S. took action in Iraq; and that U.S. aircraft flying over Iraq should crash."

- Government's Sentencing Memorandum (Added 4/10/08) In seeking a twelve month sentence, federal prosecutors wrote, "the suspension of defendant’s security clearance and departure from the military occurred as a result of a long-standing pattern of conduct that demonstrated the defendant’s disloyalty to the United States and his strong support for al Qaeda’s Usama bin Laden."

- Transcript of Sentencing Hearing (Added 4/10/08) This document is the transcript of Ahmed's September 2005 sentencing hearing.

- Judgment (Added 4/10/08) Ahmed was sentenced to eighteen months in prison in September 2005.

• United States v. Syed Haris Ahmed & Ehsanul Islam Sadequee (Material support to Al-Qaida):

- DOJ Press Release on Ahmed Indictment In April 2006, an Atlanta jury indicted Syed Haris Ahmed, a naturalized U.S. citizen studying at Georgia Tech University, for providing material support to terrorists.

- Superseding Indictment (adding Sadequee as a defendant) In July 2006, Syed Haris Ahmed and Ehsanul Islam Sadequee, a U.S. citizen who reportedly met Ahmed at the Al-Farooq Masjid in Atlanta, were indicted for conspiring to provide material support to terrorists. According to federal prosecutors, Ahmed traveled to Pakistan in July 2005 with the intention of joining and fighting with Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LET). The U.S. has designated LeT a Foreign Terrorist Organization. Prosecutors allege Ahmed hoped to participate “in violent jihad in Kashmir or elsewhere, including in the United States if so requested.” FBI Director Robert Mueller told the Senate Intelligence Committee in January 2007 that Ahmed and Sadequee “had long-term goals of creating a large network of extremists in preparation for conducting attacks, possibly inside the United States." This FBI investigation was dubbed "Operation Northern Exposure."

- DOJ Press Release on Superseding Indictment

- Affidavit of FBI Special Agent Michael Scherck Ahmed and Sadequee, who attended high school in Canada, traveled to Toronto “to meet with likeminded Islamic extremists.” During interviews with FBI agents, Ahmed admitted that while in Canada the men “discussed strategic locations in the United States suitable for a terrorist strike, to include oil refineries and military bases.” After returning from Canada, Ahmed and Sadequee specifically talked about “the possibility of attacking Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Georgia.” While in Canada, the men “also plotted how to disable the Global Positioning System in an effort to disrupt military and commercial communications and traffic.”

- Transcript of Sadequee's Detention Hearing Sadequee's family offered to guarantee Sadequee's bond with their family home.

- Ehsanul Islam Sadequee's Response to Government's Post-Hearing Brief on Motions to Suppress Evidence from Luggage Search and Airport Interrogation (Added 7/30/08) Sadequee's attorneys argued for the suppression of "evidence obtained from an unreasonable and illegal search of his checked baggage at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport and statements made during an illegal detention at John F. Kennedy Airport."

- Government's Post-Hearing Brief Concerning Defendant Sadequee's Motions to Suppress Evidence from Luggage Search and Airport Interview The government filed this brief in opposition to Sadequee’s "motions to suppress evidence obtained from (1) a border search of his checked luggage at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport...and (2) an interview with law enforcement at John F. Kennedy International Airport."

- Superseding Indictment: Ahmed (Added 12/11/08) A superseding indictment was filed in the case of Syed Haris Ahmed, a naturalized U.S. citizen studying at Georgia Tech University, and Ehsanul Islam Sadequee, a U.S. citizen who reportedly met Ahmed at the Al-Farooq Masjid in Atlanta. FBI Director Robert Mueller told the Senate Intelligence Committee in January 2007 that Ahmed and Sadequee “had long-term goals of creating a large network of extremists in preparation for conducting attacks, possibly inside the United States." The superseding indictment contains a plethora of new formal allegations against the two, though much of the material had previously been disclosed in legal proceedings or news reports pertaining to their web of associates in the U.S., Canada, England, and Bosnia.

For example, the indictment charges that “Sadequee and Ahmed traveled to the Washington D.C. area and recorded short ‘casing’ videos of symbolic and infrastructure targets for potential terrorist attacks, including the Pentagon and the United States Capitol” that were sent to Younis Tsouli (Irhabi007) and Aabid Hussein Khan. Tsouli occupied an exalted status in the online jihadist community and served as an Internet jack-of-all-trades, registering over 180 web site domains in Europe and the U.S. In July 2007, Tsouli, whom prosecutors said had a “particularly close affiliation” with Al Qaeda in Iraq, pled guilty in England to inciting murder for terrorist purposes. Khan has admitted making direct contact with at least two designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations inside Pakistan—Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba—willing to accept English-speaking Westerners as students at locally-run terrorist training camps. Investigators determined that he possessed “maps and timetables for the Washington, D.C., and New York City public transit systems; documents from the New York City Department of Transportation detailing truck routes into the city; schematics of the financial district in lower Manhattan”; and a slew of jihadist material. In August 2008, Khan was convicted in England on charges that included possessing an article for a purpose connected with terrorism and making a record of information likely to be useful in terrorism.

The indictment also formally lays out the conspirators’ ties to Zubair Ahmed. Ahmed and his cousin Khaleel Ahmed were charged in December 2007 in Toledo, Ohio with conspiring to "kill, kidnap or maim persons outside of the United States, to include U.S. armed forces personnel serving in Iraq and Afghanistan." Also relevant in the wake of the Mumbai attacks is the conspirators’ interest in joining Lashkar-e-Taiba.

- Superseding Indictment: Sadequee (Added 12/11/08)

- DOJ Press Release on Conviction: Ahmed (Added 6/10/09) Following a bench trial, U.S. District Judge William S. Duffey, Jr., announced in June 2009 the conviction of Syed Haris Ahmed for conspiring to provide material support to terrorists. According to U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia David Nahmias, "This case has never been about an imminent threat to the United States, because in the post-9/11 world we will not wait to disrupt terrorism-related activity until a bomb is built and ready to explode.  The fuse that leads to an explosion of violence may be long, but once it is lit – once individuals unlawfully agree to support terrorist acts at home or abroad – we will prosecute them to snuff that fuse out."

- Judge's Ruling re: Ahmed Conviction (Added 8/13/09) Following a bench trial, U.S. District Judge William S. Duffey, Jr., announced in June 2009 the conviction of Syed Haris Ahmed for conspiring to provide material support to terrorists. According to U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia David Nahmias, "This case has never been about an imminent threat to the United States, because in the post-9/11 world we will not wait to disrupt terrorism-related activity until a bomb is built and ready to explode.  The fuse that leads to an explosion of violence may be long, but once it is lit – once individuals unlawfully agree to support terrorist acts at home or abroad – we will prosecute them to snuff that fuse out."

- Daubert Ruling Approving NEFA Senior Investigator Evan Kohlmann’s Expert Witness Testimony (Added 6/15/09) In approving the testimony of NEFA Senior Investigator Evan Kohlmann as an expert witness on behalf of DOJ in the Atlanta trial of Syed Haris Ahmed, U.S. District Judge William S. Duffey Jr. wrote, “The basis for Kohlmann’s testimony, generally, is his years of research and tracking of terrorist information, through websites, primary interviews, books, news articles and journals, and other information. His testimony essentially synthesizes these concepts, and through use of the comparative analysis methodology, Kohlmann has developed an understanding of terrorist organization structures, operations, and membership, allowing him to speak with authority about Al-Qaida in Iraq, LeT, and JeM…His research and experience has provided him a base of understanding far greater, and far more sophisticated, than that of the Court or of jurors.”

- DOJ Press Release on Conviction: Ehsanul Islam Sadequee (Added 8/13/09) In a case in which NEFA Senior Investigator Evan Kohlmann testified as an expert witness and which NEFA has covered in depth, Ehsanul Islam Sadequee, 23, of Roswell, Ga., was convicted on all four counts of an indictment charging him with supporting terrorists and a foreign terrorist organization. U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia David E. Nahmias said, "With this guilty verdict, a long and successful international counter-terrorism investigation comes to a close. Defendants in the United States, the United Kingdom, Bosnia, and elsewhere - all of whom conspired together to provide material support to violent jihad - are now safely behind bars." As DOJ explained, among Sadequee's numerous crimes, he and "others formed a violent jihadist organization known as 'Al Qaeda in Northern Europe.' The group was to be based in Sweden and focus on terrorist attacks in Europe."

- DOJ Press Release on Sentencing (Added 12/15/09) Ehsanul Islam Sadequee, 23, of Roswell, Ga., was sentenced to 17 years in prison, while Syed Haris Ahmed, 25, of Atlanta, was sentenced to 13 years in prison after being convicted on terror charges. At sentencing, U.S. District Judge Bill Duffey commented, "While there was no attack in this case, it's because you were stopped." And DOJ noted that the men "used the Internet to develop relationships and maintain contact with each other and with other supporters of violent jihad in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Pakistan and elsewhere." NEFA Senior Investigator Evan Kohlmann testified as an expert witness in Sadequee's trial and NEFA has covered the case in depth, authoring a "Target: America" Report and releasing numerous key court documents.

- NEFA Foundation "Target: America" Report "Irhaby007's American Connections" (Added 7/9/07) This "Target: America" report shines a spotlight on the Atlanta, Georgia cell in Younis Tsouli's global, Internet-based, jihadist network. That Atlanta cell transmitted surveillance video of Washington D.C. landmarks to Tsouli in the U.K, and, according to FBI Director Robert Mueller, "had long-term goals of creating a large network of extremists in preparation for conducting attacks, possibly inside the United States." In July 2007, Tsouli and his two British co-conspirators pled guilty to inciting murder for terrorist purposes and received prison sentences ranging from 6 1/2 to 10 years. NEFA Senior Investigator Evan Kohlmann testified as an expert witness in that trial.

- Anatomy of a Modern Homegrown Terror Cell: Aabid Khan et al. (Added 9/28/08) The NEFA Foundation has published a new report by NEFA Senior Investigator Evan Kohlmann titled "Anatomy of a Modern Homegrown Terror Cell." The report focuses on the recent criminal trial of Aabid Hussain Khan at the Blackfriars Crown Court in London, as told through the actual evidence seized by U.K. authorities and the detailed testimony of Khan himself. According to Karen Jones, the reviewing lawyer in the case from the U.K. Crown Prosecution Service, "The evidence showed Khan was a committed and active supporter of Al-Qaida ideology… He preyed on vulnerable young people and turned them into recruits to his cause, using internet chat to lure them in then incite them to fight. He arranged their Pakistan for terrorism training, and talked about a 'worldwide battle.'"

• United States v. Syed Ahsan (Azzam Publications webmaster; material support to terrorists)

- Indictment (Added 12/20/07) In July 2006, Ahsan was arrested by British law enforcement authorities in London; he has been charged in Connecticut with conspiring to provide material support to terrorists. Federal prosecutors state that from "approximately 1997 through at least August 2004, Ahsan conspired with Babar Ahmad, an organization called Azzam Publications and others to provide material support and resources to persons engaged in acts of terrorism through the creation and use of various Internet Web sites, e-mail communications and other means. The material support and resources consisted of expert advice and assistance, communications equipment, military items, currency, monetary instruments, financial services and personnel. All of this material support was designed to assist and recruit for the Taliban and the Chechen Mujahideen, as well as to raise funds for terrorist activities in Afghanistan, Chechnya and other places. It is alleged that members of the conspiracy maintained accounts at a number of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Web hosting companies in the United States, including one headquartered in Connecticut."

- DOJ Press Release on Indictment (Added 12/20/07)

• United States v. Hor Akl and Amera Akl (Material support to Hezbollah and fraud):

- Affidavit of FBI Special Agent Jonathan Jones (Added 6/04/10) Toledo, Ohio residents Hor I. Akl and his spouse, Amera A. Akl, both of whom are dual citizens of the United States and Lebanon, were arrested on charges that they conspired to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, conspired to launder money, and committed arson relating to an insurance fraud scheme. Hor Akl is also charged with two counts of bankruptcy fraud and one count of perjury. According to DOJ, "from on or about Aug. 30, 2009, to the present, the Akls conspired to provide material support to Hizballah...the Akls agreed to send money to the terrorist organization Hizballah after they were approached by a confidential informant for the FBI who claimed he worked for an anonymous donor eager to support Hizballah. The couple researched and proposed at least ten different ways in which the money could be shipped to Hizballah...The complaint alleges that the Akls ultimately agreed to conceal approximately $500,000 in the hollow sections of a vehicle and to ship the vehicle to Lebanon, where they would remove the cash and give it to Hizballah officials on behalf of the purported anonymous donors in the United States. The Akls expected to receive a fee or commission for arranging the transfer of funds. The complaint alleges that in March 2010, Hor Akl traveled to Lebanon to make arrangements for the delivery of the funds to Hizballah. Akl allegedly returned to the United States claiming that he had met with Hizballah officials."

- DOJ Press Release on Complaint (Added 6/04/10)

• United States v. Abdurahman Alamoudi (Financial transactions with Libya; AQ; Muslim Brotherhood):

- Superseding Indictment (Added 4/9/08) Abdurahman Alamoudi, who "is the founder and former executive director of the American Muslim Council (AMC), the founder of the American Muslim Foundation (AMF), and...an influential member of other Islamic political and charitable organizations," was indicted in Virginia on a number of charges, including making false statements, engaging in prohibited financial transactions with the Libyan government, and money laundering. According to the indictment, Alamoudi "received and transferred and attempted to transfer, and exported and attempted to export, and otherwise dealt in and attempted to otherwise deal in, $340,000 in cash from the World Islamic Call Society, an entity that was a part of, controlled by and acting on behalf of the Government of Libya,"

- Plea Agreement (Added 4/9/08) As DOJ explains, "on July 30, 2004, Alamoudi pleaded guilty to three federal offenses: one count of violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which imposes terrorism-related sanctions prohibiting unlicensed travel to and commerce with Libya; one count of false statements made in his application for naturalization; and a tax offense involving a long-term scheme to conceal from the IRS his financial transactions with Libya and his foreign bank accounts and to omit material information
from the tax returns filed by his charities."

- DOJ Press Release on Sentencing (Added 4/9/08) In October 2004, Alamoudi was sentenced to 23 years in prison. The press release states, "Alamoudi made at least 10 trips to Libya, many lasting as long as five days. According to court documents, while in Libya, Alamoudi participated in meetings with Libyan government officials. Initially, during a meeting on March 13, 2003, Alamoudi and Libyan government officials discussed creating 'headaches' and disruptions in Saudi Arabia. As the scheme continued, however, Alamoudi learned that the actual objective was the assassination of Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah. Alamoudi participated in recruiting participants for this plot by introducing the Libyans to two Saudi dissidents in London and facilitating the transfer of hundreds of thousands of dollars of cash from the Libyans to those dissidents to finance the plot."

- Alamoudi and Al-Qaida (Added 4/9/08) In July 2005, "the U.S Department of the Treasury...designated the Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia (MIRA), a U.K.-based Saudi oppositionist organization, for providing material support to al Qaida. MIRA is run by al Qaida-affiliated Saad al- Faqih..." The Treasury designation states, "in 2003, MIRA and Faqih received approximately $1 million in funding through Abdulrahman Alamoudi. According to information available to the U.S. Government, the September 2003 arrest of Alamoudi was a severe blow to al Qaida, as Alamoudi had a close relationship with al Qaida and had raised money for al Qaida in the United States."

- Alamoudi and the U.S. Muslim Brotherhood (Added 4/9/08) This prosecution filing in the Holy Land Foundation case identifies Alamoudi as a member of the U.S. Muslim Brotherhood.

- United Association for Studies and Research (UASR): 1997 Annual Report (Added 4/9/08) This document lists Alamoudi as the organization's secretary. Federal prosecutors identified UASR as a member of the U.S. Muslim Brotherhood's Palestine Committee in a court filing in the Holy Land Foundation case.

- Alamoudi and IHH (Added 6/07/10) Following the Israeli raid on a flotilla of vessels sponsored by the Turkish Muslim charitable group Insani Yardim Vakfi (IHH), which was attempting to break the ongoing blockade on Gaza, the group has jumped into the headlines. During court proceedings involving Abdurahman Alamoudi, who was later sentenced to 23 years in prison after pleading guilty to 3 federal offenses including violating the IEPPA Act, ICE Special Agent Brent Gentrup provided information pertaining to links between IHH and the Alamoudi-linked Success Foundation. According to Gentrup, "I have reviewed several pieces of correspondence on the letterhead of Insan Hak ve Hurrhyetleri Insani Yardim Vakfi, aka The Foundation for Human Rights & Humanitarian Relief and commonly referred to by the initials on it logo 'I.H.H.' This correspondence was seized from the offices of Success Foundation at 3606B Forest Drive, Alexandria, VA in March 2002. The first letter, on IHH letterhead is dated August 1999 and states that IHH accounts have been closed by the Turkish government. It states that 'we are only accepting cash/in-kind donations.' It is signed by Mehmet Kose, Director. This, and each of the other documents from IHH described hereafter, bears an Istanbul address. Exhibit 23. 2) Another is an Acknowledgement of Receipt dated January 2000 for $35,000 received from the International Relief Organization, which I know to be the North American branch of the International Islamic Relief Organization, and the predecessor in interest to Success Foundation. The receipt recites that the 'funds will be used for relief and charity work as instructed by Success Foundation.' It is signed by Mehmet Kose, Director. Exhibit 24. 3) Another is an Acknowledgment of Receipt dated May 15, 2000, which documents a donation of $90,000 from the Success Foundation. According to the receipt it is supposed to be used for relief and charity work. It is signed by Mehmet Kose, Director. Exhibit 25. 4) The final document is an Official Receipt dated January 21, 2001 acknowledging $70,000 sent by Success Foundation to IHH, purportedly for use for humanitarian aid to the Chechen refugees in Georgia and Azerbijan. It is signed by Mehmet Kose, Director. Exhibit 26. 5) Special Agent Todd Price provided a printout of the contacts folder on Alamoudi’s Palm Pilot, which was taken from him on August 16, 2003 when the $340,000 in cash was seized in London. I have reviewed that printout of the contact information in Alamoudi’s Palm Pilot. He had contact information for IHH and for Mehmet Kose. 6) During the April 2001 trial of would-be Millenium bomber Ahmed Ressam, federal prosecutors called French counter-terrorism magistrate Judge Jean-Louis Brugiere as an expert witness. The transcript of his testimony states that Brugiere testified that the Turkish group IHH had played '[a]n important role; in the Millennium bomb plot. When asked, he stated '[t]here's a rather close relation.' According to Brugiere, the IHH is located in Istanbul, Turkey. He stated: 'The IHH is an NGO, but it was kind of a type of cover-up in order to obtain forged documents and also to obtain different forms of infiltration for Mujahideen in combat. And also to go and gather these Mujahideens. And finally, one of the last responsibilities that they had was also to be implicated or involved in weapons trafficking. In describing the apartment occupied by members of the cell involved in the Millenium plot, Brugiere characterized the apartment as a ‘conspiratorial flat.’ He based this conclusion in part on the phone calls placed from that apartment, 'particularly to Turkey and Istanbul and I am talking about the IHH.'”

- Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals Decision (Added 4/9/08) In June 2006, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the district court’s grant of the Government’s motion for forfeiture of substitute assets.

• United States v. Hasan Saddiq Faseh Alddin (Immigration charges; ties to 9/11 hijackers):

- ICE Fact Sheet on Departure (Added 7/28/08) According to ICE, "On May 27, 2004, ICE agents in San Diego arrested 34-year-old Hasan Saddiq Faseh Alddin, a Saudi national and U.S. legal permanent resident, on immigration charges resulting from two prior convictions for domestic violence. The arrest stemmed from a Joint Terrorism Task Force probe. In September 2001, Alddin roomed with a close friend of two of the 9/11 hijackers, Nawaf Alhamzi and Khalid al-Mihdhar. Alddin’s roommate departed the country the day before the 9/11 attacks. ICE placed Alddin in deportation proceedings. He has since departed the country." 

• United States v. Adarus Abdulle Ali (Perjury in Somali jihad probe):

- Information (Added 11/10/09) Minnesota resident Adarus Abdulle Ali pled guilty to lying to a federal grand jury when he denied that he knew Minneapolis men were traveling to Somalia to wage jihad. The FBI's investigation of Ali is linked to a broader probe of approximately 20 U.S.-based individuals who traveled to Somalia to join Shabaab al-Mujahideen. (See the cases of (See the cases of Abdifatah Yusuf Isse and Salah Osman Ahmed, Kamal Said Hassan, and Abdow Abdow.)

• United States v. Abdul Tawala Ibn Ali Alishtari & Brian Anderson (New York terror financing case):

- Indictment In February 2007, federal prosecutors in New York arrested Alishtari on charges of terrorism financing, material support of terrorism, international money laundering, conspiracy and wire fraud. According to DOJ, "ALISHTARI, a 53-year-old resident of Ardsley, New York, facilitated the transfer of $152,000 with the intention that it be used in Afghanistan and Pakistan to help train terrorists. Specifically, in the latter half of 2006, ALISHTARI accepted payment to discreetly transfer these funds, believing that they were earmarked for Pakistan and Afghanistan."

- DOJ Press Release on Indictment

- Superseding Indictment (adding Brian Anderson as a defendant)

- Superseding Indictment (Added 10/3/09) Alishtari was indicted on terror financing and material support charges.

- Alishtari Resume In 2002 and 2003, Alishtari was named "US National Republican Congressional Committee NYS Businessman of the Year."

- Defense Strategy (Added 1/3/08) A filing by attorneys for Abdul Tawala Ibn Ali Alishtari, a New York businessman and Muslim convert indicted for allegedly attempting to finance a terrorist training camp in Afghanistan, asserts that Alishtari's actions were motivated by profit: "An examination of the hours of taped conversations between the undercover agent posing as a wealthy mid-easterner and the defendant demonstrate that the defendant was more interested in promoting investment in his failing Flat Electronic Debit platform venture than he was in the obtuse goals of funding terrorist sympathizers as suggested by the undercover agent."

- British Columbia Securities Commission Report re: Brian Anderson (Added 7/30/08) This report summarizes how Anderson violated the Securities Act.

- Complaint re: Frontier Assets (Added 7/30/08) This FBI-authored complaint pertains to Anderson's involvement with Frontier Assets.

- DOJ Press Release on Guilty Plea (Added 10/02/09) Abdul Tawala Ibn Ali Alishtari pled guilty in New York federal court to terrorism financing and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The Ardsley, New York, businessman "facilitated the transfer of $152,000, with the understanding that the money would be used to fund training for terrorists. In the latter half of 2006, Alishtari agreed to discreetly transfer these funds for an undercover officer, believing that the money was going to be used to purchase night vision goggles and other equipment for a terrorist training camp in Afghanistan. During his guilty plea, Alishtari admitted that he sent the money from the United States knowing that the funds were to be used to help finance alleged terrorist activity in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Alishtari also pleaded guilty to stealing millions of dollars from victims through his fraudulent operation of a loan investment program..."

- DOJ Press Release on Sentencing: Alishtari (Added 5/13/10) New York business Abdul Tawala Ibn Ali Alishtari was sentenced in Manhattan federal court to 121 months in prison after previously pleading guilty to charges of terrorism financing and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. As DOJ explained, "In the latter half of 2006, Alishtari facilitated the transfer of $152,500, believing that the funds would be used in Afghanistan and Pakistan to help train terrorists. Alishtari understood that these funds would be used to purchase equipment needed at a terrorist training camp, such as night vision goggles." Additionally, he "orchestrated a large-scale fraud in which he stole upwards of $18 million from his victims through the operation of a loan investment program he called the 'Flat Electronic Data Interchange; ('FEDI') which was purportedly a high-yield investment scheme."

 

• United States v. Mohammed Alkaramla (Threat to Chicago Jewish school):

- Complaint (Added 3/28/09) According to a document filed in federal court by FBI Special Agent and JTTF member Tim Lauster Jr., Chicago resident Mohammed Alkaramla (who holds dual U.S. and Jordanian citizenship) “mailed a threatening letter to the Ida Crown Jewish Academy” that stated “Will Give You until 01.15.2009 to back OFF from Gaza in Palestine or will set our explosive in your areas, it very important to make a quick action before we make our decisions to set bombs in the fowling [sic] addresses…” He also conducted Google searches for the following terms on December 30, 2008: “Bomb attack + Israel + letters”, “Jewish elementary schools in Chicago”, and “Sample Threat [sic] Letter”.

• United States v. Carlos Eduardo Almonte and Mohamed Mahmood Alessa (Planning to join Al Shabaab):

- Complaint (Added 6/08/10) U.S. citizens Mohamed Mahmood Alessa, 20, of North Bergen, New Jersey, and Carlos Eduardo Almonte, 24, of Elmwood Park, New Jersey were arrested at JFK International Airport, where they intended to take separate flights to Egypt on their way to Somalia to join designated Foreign Terrorist Organization Al Shabaab and wage violent jihad. According to DOJ, "In October 2006, the FBI received a tip concerning the defendants’ activities. As the investigation continued, an NYPD Intelligence Division undercover officer (UC) recorded numerous meetings and conversations with them, during which the defendants discussed and prepared to carry out their plan. Those preparations included saving thousands of dollars, physically conditioning themselves, engaging in paintball and other tactical training, acquiring military gear and apparel for use overseas, and purchasing airline tickets to Egypt with the intent to then travel to Somalia. The defendants also discussed their obligation to wage violent jihad and at times expressed a willingness to commit acts of violence in the United States." Further, "The defendants also watched and played for the undercover officer numerous video and audio recordings that promoted violent jihad, including lectures by Anwar al-Awlaki and videos featuring attacks by Al Shabaab and other terrorist groups." The complaint noted that "the defendants thought that any Muslim who thought the Times Square bombing was wrong was a non-Muslim."

- DOJ Press Release on Complaint (Added 6/08/10) 

• United States v. Ali Mohammed Abboud Almosaleh (False statements to CBP; possessed jihadist material):

- DOJ Press Release on Indictment (Added 4/10/08) In July 2004, Ali Mohammed Abboud Almosaleh was indicted in Minnesota and charged with making false statements to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents. According to DOJ, "on July 7, 2004, Almosaleh arrived at the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport on a Northwest Flight from Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Upon arrival, Almosaleh allegedly falsely represented to customs agents how long he had been out of the United States. Almosaleh allegedly told customs agents that he had been out of the United States for one month, when in fact he had been out of the United States for approximately five months. He also allegedly made a false statement when he told customs agents that Syria was the only country he had visited prior to his arrival in United States, omitting his travel to Iraq, according to the indictment. The grand jury also alleged that Almosaleh lied about the contents of digital video disks found in his possession. Almosaleh allegedly represented that the video disks were 'just music' when in fact they contained video images, including, images of Iraqi Iman Muqtada Al-Sadr and his militia accompanied by calls for resistance against the United States, and video images of Saddam Hussein and the invasion of Iraq."

- Exhibit: FBI 302 (Added 4/10/08) This FBI summary of its interview of Almosaleh reveals that Almosaleh previously worked for a food service company at Denver International Airport.

- Exhibit: Sworn Statements (Added 4/10/08) These are the three sworn statements Almosaleh made before Customs and Border Patrol officers.

- Exhibit: CBP Declaration (Added 4/10/08) This is the Customs declaration Almosaleh filled out upon entering the U.S.

- Judgment (Added 4/10/08) Almosaleh pled guilty to making false statements and was sentenced to time served.

- Remarks by DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff (Added 4/10/08) In a May 2007 speech, DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff spoke about Almosaleh. He noted that searches of Almosaleh's baggage revealed "video clips of improvised explosive devices used against U.S. soldiers and vehicles; we found a video on martyrdom; and a manual on how to construct improvised explosive devices." Moreover, "additional searches revealed that he had used the internet to gather information on a special weapons facility in Iraq as well as the England-France Tunnel...can I guarantee that this person would have detonated a bomb in the United States? No. Would I want to take that chance? No."

• United States v. Abdullah Alnoshan & Khalid Fadlalla (Immigration fraud; MWL officials):

- ICE Press Release on Deportation (Added 4/28/08) In December 2005, Abdullah Alnoshan was deported to Saudi Arabia. ICE explains, "Alnoshan, who served as the director of the Virginia office of the Muslim World League, an international charity based in Saudia Arabia, was first arrested at his Falls Church home on July 22, 2005 by ICE and FBI agents assigned to the Joint Terrorism Task Force. A July 19, 2005 criminal complaint filed in the case alleged that Alnoshan conspired to commit immigration fraud by using fraudulent employment documents and related fraudulent immigration documents to enter, exit, and live in the United States, while deterring law enforcement from discovering information regarding his true immigration status. Also charged in the criminal complaint was Khalid Fadlalla, a Sudanese citizen who worked at the Muslim World League office in New York...On November 22, 2005, Alnoshan pleaded guilty to one count of immigration fraud and was sentenced to time served...An Immigration Judge subsequently ordered him removed from the country." According to a U.S. government court filing, the Muslim World League "was founded by the founders of Al-Qaida.

• United States v. Yehia Ali Ahmed Alomari et al. (Money laundering; Hezbollah sting):

- Complaint (Added 4/18/08) In February 20007, federal prosecutors in Rochester, New York filed a complaint against Yehia Ali Ahmed Alomari, Saleh Mohamed Taher Saeed, and Mohamed Al Huraibi alleging that the men - who ran grocery stores in Rochester - conspired to launder money. The men, who were targeted in a U.S. government sting, transferred $200,000 believing it would be sent to Hezbollah.

- Transcript of Al Huraibi Detention Hearing (Added 5/12/08) According to this document, Al Huraibi was "a 20 year member of the Yemen military in which in his own words he was akin to a CIA officer in Yemen."

- Indictment (Added 5/12/08) In May 2008, federal prosecutors in Rochester, New York indicted Yehia Ali Ahmed Alomari, Saleh Mohamed Taher Saeed, and Mohamed Al Huraibi on sixteen counts of money laundering.

- DOJ Press Release on Indictment (Added 5/12/08) 

• United States v. Ali Amirnazmi (Illegal business transactions with Iran):

- Indictment (Added 5/7/09) In July 2008, Ali Amirnazmi was indicted in Pennsylvania on numerous charges "relating to his
participation in illegal business transactions with Iran between in or about 1996 and in or about July 2008 and lying to federal officials about those transactions. The charges against Amirnazmi include one count of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), four counts of violating IEEPA, one count of conspiracy to act in the United States as an agent of the Government of Iran without registering with the Attorney General, one count of acting in the United States as an unregistered agent of the Government of Iran, and three counts of making false statements to federal officials."

- DOJ Press Release on Indictment (Added 5/7/09) In February 2009, Amirnazmi was convicted today of one count of conspiracy to violate IEEPA, three counts of violating IEEPA, three counts of making false statements to federal officials, and three counts of bank fraud.

• United States Military v. Ryan Anderson (National Guardsman; sought to give intel to Al-Qaida):

- Army Public Affairs Article (Added 7/28/08) A February 2004 Army Public Affairs article noted, "A mobilized Washington state National Guardsman has been taken into custody for allegedly attempting to aid the al-Qaida terrorist network. Spc. Ryan G. Anderson, of the Guard’s 81st Armor Brigade, was apprehended Feb. 12 by military and federal law enforcement officers at Fort Lewis, Wash., without incident, officials said. Anderson is being held at the Fort Lewis Regional Corrections Facility pending criminal charges of aiding the enemy by wrongfully attempting to communicate and give intelligence to the Al-Qaida, in violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice Articles 80 and 104, officials said." He was subsequently convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

• United States v. Amir Hossein Ardebili (Procuring military technology for Iran):

- Indictment (Added 12/14/09) Amir Hossein Ardebili was indicted for violating the Arms Export Control Act, International Emergency Economic Powers Act, smuggling, conspiracy and money laundering.

• United States v. Yassin Muhiddin Aref & Mohammed Mosharref Hossain (Albany, N.Y. missile sting):

- Superseding Indictment (Added 7/5/08) In September 2005, federal prosecutors filed a superseding indictment in the case of Yassin Muhiddin Aref and Mohammed Mosharref Hossain, both residents of Albany, New York. As DOJ explained, "the Indictment charged Aref and Hossain with agreeing to conduct financial transactions which were
intended to conceal the source of cash which they believed to have come from the sale of a surface to air missile to terrorist group JEM for use in an imminent terror attack in New York."

- Government's Memorandum in Support of Motion for Entry of Order of Detention (Added 7/5/08) This government filing noted that Aref's diary included an entry in which he reported meeting with the "Hamas brother...who is 'the representative for the Syrian Relations.'" Further, "Aref's 1999 journal also shows a series of contacts with Mullah Krekar (who...subsequently founded the terrorist organization Ansar al Islam)." Additionally, "Aref’s 1999 journal reflects contacts with [Dr. Rhafil] Dhafir...Earlier this year, Dhafir was convicted in U.S. District Court in Syracuse of illegally sending nearly $4 million to Iraq in violation of the Iraqi embargo." And, "following his arrival in the U.S., Aref maintained contact with the IMK [Islamic Movement of Kurdistan] center in Damascus."

- Second Circuit Court of Appeals Opinion re: Alleged NSA Wiretap Evidence (Added 7/5/08) The Second Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Aref's efforts to gain "access to confidential information about government monitoring of
communications." The NSA allegedly carried out the monitoring. 

- Prosecution Exhibit List (Added 7/5/08) This document lists the exhibits DOJ introduced into evidence during the trial.

- DOJ Press Release on Sentencing (Added 7/5/08) DOJ stated, "after a month-long trial which ended on October 10, 2006, an Albany jury found Aref guilty of the following offenses: conspiracy to engage in money laundering, money laundering, conspiracy to provide material support in connection with an attack with a weapon of mass destruction (a shoulder fired surface to air missile), two substantive acts of material support in connection with an attack involving a weapon of mass destruction, conspiracy to provide material support to a known terrorist organization (Jaish-e-Mohammed, a Pakistani Islamic extremist group on the State Department's list of designated foreign terrorist organizations), two substantive acts of material support to a designated terrorist organization, and one count of lying to the FBI regarding whether he knew Mullah Krekar, founder of the terrorist group Ansar al Islam. Hossain was convicted of each of the 27 counts in which he was charged." Both Aref and Hossain were sentenced to 15 years in prison.

- Second Circuit Court of Appeals Opinion (Added 7/5/08) The Second Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the convictions of Albany, N.Y. residents Yassin Muhiddin Aref and Mohammed Mosharref Hossain. As DOJ has explained, the men were convicted for  "agreeing to conduct financial transactions which were intended to conceal the source of cash which they believed to have come from the sale of a surface to air missile to terrorist group JEM for use in an imminent terror attack in New York." In its ruling, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals explained that "based on an article in The New York Times (suggesting the defendants might have been subject to warrantless surveillance), Aref also moved to discover evidence resulting from any warrantless surveillance and to suppress any illegally obtained evidence or to dismiss the indictment." The court ruled that "the district court did not err in sealing certain documents containing classified information..." Nonetheless, the court "urge[d] district courts to avoid sealing documents in their entirety unless necessary to serve a compelling governmental interest such as national security.

• United States v. Sami Al-Arian et al. (RICO - Palestinian Islamic Jihad):

- Indictment (Added 1/26/08) In February 2003, federal prosecutors announced the filing of 50-count indictment in Tampa, Florida that charged "a total of eight defendants under RICO with operating a racketeering enterprise from 1984 until the present that engaged in a number of violent activities. In addition, the indictment charges conspiracy within the United States to kill and main persons abroad, conspiracy to provide material support and resources to PIJ, conspiracy to violate emergency economic sanctions, engaging in various acts of interstate extortion, perjury, obstruction of justice and immigration fraud." In the indictment, DOJ asserted that Al-Arian, a former professor at the University of South Florida's College of Engineering, was the "alleged leader of the PIJ in the United States, and Secretary of the 'Shura Council,' or worldwide governing group of the PIJ." Further, the government claimed "that Al-Arian and the seven other defendants used locations and facilities within the United States to serve as the North American base for PIJ..."

- DOJ Press Release on Indictment (Added 1/26/08)

- Superseding Indictment (Added 1/26/08)

- Plea Agreement (Added 1/26/08) In April 2006, Al-Arian "pleaded guilty to Count Four of the indictment against him – a charge of conspiracy to make or receive contributions of funds, goods or services to or for the benefit of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad."

- DOJ Press Release on Plea Agreement (Added 1/26/08) According to DOJ, "Al-Arian admits that he performed services for the PIJ in 1995 and thereafter...Al-Arian also acknowledges in the plea agreement that he knew the PIJ used acts of violence as a means to achieve its objectives. Nevertheless, Al-Arian continued to assist the terrorist organization, for instance, by filing official paperwork to obtain immigration benefits for PIJ associate Bashir Nafi, and concealing the terrorist associations of various individuals associated with the PIJ. He further admits to assisting PIJ associate Mazen al-Najjar in a federal court proceeding, a proceeding in which al-Najjar and Nafi both falsely claimed under oath that they were not associated with the PIJ."

- DOJ Press Release on Sentencing (Added 1/26/08) Al-Arian received a 57-month sentence.

- Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals Ruling (Added 1/26/08) The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the government did not violate Al-Arian's "plea agreement by issuing a subpoena commanding Al-Arian to testify before a grand jury" in Virginia probing Muslim charities there. In April 2006, after a jury acquitted him on some counts and hung on others, Al-Arian pled guilty to one count of conspiracy “to make or receive contributions of funds, goods or services to or for the benefit of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad...in violation of 18 U.S.C. §371.” Then, "In May 2006, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia issued to Al-Arian a grand jury subpoena ad testificandum. The subpoena was served on Al-Arian in early October 2006, and he filed a motion to quash the subpoena in the Virginia district court. Al-Arian argued that his plea agreement in the Florida district court prevented the government from forcing him to testify before the grand jury in Virginia." Al-Arian refused to testify and was held in contempt; the contempt order was dropped in December 2007. The Virginia investigation reportedly involves a complex network of Islamic charities that allegedly funded terrorist groups, including Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). For example, in one letter entered into evidence in Al-Arian's trial, the Virginia-based International Institute for Islamic Thought is identified by PIJ leader Ramadan Abdullah Shallah as the "largest contributor" to Al-Arian's World and Islamic Studies Enterprise (WISE), which authorities alleged was a PIJ front group.

- Indictment (Added 7/4/08) In June 2008, former University of South Florida professor Sami Al-Arian was indicted in the Eastern District of Virginia on two counts of criminal contempt for "unlawfully, knowingly, and willfully disobey[ing] and resist[ing] the lawful order of a court of the United States" on October 16, 2007 and March 20, 2008. According to open source reporting, the grand jury before which Al-Arian was called has been probing the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT), an organization based in Herndon, Virginia. IIIT is discussed in this government affidavit.

- Al-Arian Affidavit: June 12, 2008 (Added 8/5/08) In this affidavit, Al-Arian addressed a series of topics, including questions regarding IIIT and SAAR.

- Al-Arian Affidavit: June 24, 2008 (Added 8/5/08) In an affidavit, Al-Arian stated, "my direct familiarity and involvement with the Muslim Brotherhood occurred from the fall of 1978  until about the end of 1982. I had lesser involvement with the Muslim Brotherhood from the end of 1982 to September 1983. I have no direct knowledge of the activities of the Muslim Brotherhood after September 1983."

• United States v. Abdelhaleem Ashqar et al. (Contempt and obstruction of justice; RICO - Hamas):

- Indictment: Contempt In an indictment filed in October 2003, Ashqar -- a former professor at Howard University -- was charged with contempt for refusing to testify before a grand jury investigating Hamas' U.S. network.

- Indictment: Racketeering Conspiracy In August 2004, federal prosecutors in Chicago indicted Ashqar, Muhammad Hamid Khalil Salah, and Mousa Abu Marzook "for allegedly participating in a 15-year racketeering conspiracy in the United States and abroad to illegally finance terrorist activities in Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, including providing money for the purchase of weapons, the Justice Department announced. All three defendants allegedly used bank accounts in the United States to launder millions of dollars for disbursement to support Hamas, which has publicly claimed credit for engaging in suicide bombings that resulted in the deaths of Israeli military personnel and civilians, as well as American and other foreign nationals in Israel and the West Bank." Reflecting the breadth of the alleged network, prosecutors asserted the men joined "with 20 identified coconspirators - some named and some unnamed - and others since at least 1988 in illegally conducting the affairs of Hamas."

- DOJ Press Release on Indictment (Added 1/26/08)

- Judgment Ashqar was convicted of contempt and obstruction counts, but acquitted on the terrorism charges.

- Judgment Salah was convicted of contempt, but acquitted on the terrorism charges.

- Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals Opinion (Added 10/05/09) In November 2007, Abdelhaleem Ashqar was convicted of obstruction of justice and criminal contempt for refusing to testify before a grand jury investigating Hamas' U.S. network. The terrorist enhancement was applied and he was sentenced to 135 months in prison. In his appeal, Ashqar argued "that applying the terrorist enhancement violates his Sixth Amendment right to a jury trial because it increases his sentence based on judicially-found facts and on conduct for which he was acquitted." In rejecting Ashqar's arguement, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that his "argument fundamentally misunderstands the meaning of an acquittal. The jury found not that Ashqar was innocent, but that a reasonable doubt existed about his guilt. Because the district court found Ashqar’s intent by a preponderance of the evidence, its finding does not contradict the jury’s verdict. Sentencing courts routinely rely on acquitted conduct to increase a defendant’s sentence, and this reliance does not violate the Sixth Amendment right to a jury."

- Holy Land Foundation Exhibits (Added 1/26/08) Exhibits filed in the Holy Land Foundation (HLF) case in Texas provide mountains of information about Marzook's involvement in supporting alleged Hamas fronts in the U.S., including HLF and the Islamic Association for Palestine, as well as Ashqar's role in a key 1993 planning meeting for the U.S. Muslim Brotherhood's Palestine Committee held in Philadelphia.

• United States v. Fawzi Mustapha Assi (Material support to Hezbollah)

- Answer and Brief by the United States in Response to Defendant's Motion to Suppress Statements (Added 7/30/08) This filing states, "On July 13, 1998, defendant boarded an airplane at Detroit Metro Airport on an international flight. His ultimate destination was Lebanon. He was approached by a Customs Inspector, to whom defendant showed his passport. Another Customs inspector searched defendant’s bag and discovered two Boeing global positioning satellite modules. Defendant was asked additional questions by the agents. Among other things, defendant denied that there were any commercial goods in his luggage. Defendant and his luggage were then taken to the Customs office at the international terminal for further inspection. Agents found night vision goggles and a thermal imaging camera in his luggage." Moreover, "he told the agents that he was contacted by Hassan, whose last name was unknown to him. Hassan asked defendant whether he could obtain technical equipment, including aviation equipment, night goggle visions, global positioning satellite systems, thermal imaging infrared scopes, technical software and bullet proof vests. Defendant admitted that Hassan was purchasing the equipment for Hizballah."

- Opinion and Order Denying Defendant's Second Amended Motion to Suppress Statements (Added 7/30/08) This document contains a detailed summary of Assi's interactions with law enforcement.

- Government's Unclassified Memorandum of Law in Opposition to the Defendant's Motion to Suppress (Added 7/30/08) This filing challenges Assi's argument that evidence obtained from FISA surveillance should be suppressed.

- Plea Agreement (Added 7/30/08) In November 2007, Assi pled guilty to providing material support to Hezbollah.

- DOJ Press Release on Guilty Plea In July 1998, Assi boarded a flight to Lebanon with two Boeing global positioning satellite modules, night vision goggles, and a thermal imaging camera in his luggage. According to DOJ, "He was attempting to deliver these items to a person in Lebanon, who was purchasing the equipment for" Hezbollah.

- Assi: Letter to the Judge (Added 7/30/08) Assi wrote this letter to the judge in his case.

- U.S. Bureau of Industry and Security Enforcement Case Summary (Added 7/30/08) This U. S. Bureau of Industry and Security Enforcement Case Summary was compiled when Assi was still a fugitive.

- U.S. Government Sentencing Memorandum (Added 12/13/08) Federal prosecutors wrote that "The issue is not whether he felt that Hizballah was justified in its conduct. The material that he had been providing was meant to advance the military objectives of Hizballah in their armed conflict with Israeli forces. The sentencing of defendant should not be a forum for a discussion on international politics."

- Assi's Sentencing Memorandum (Added 12/13/08) Assi's attorney wrote, "Fawzi Assi  did not perform acts which warrant a terrorist enhancement. He is a man with deep respect for the United States as well as the nation where he was born. At all relevant times in this matter, Israel was illegally occupying Lebanon. At all relevant times, the United States had advocated and voted against the Israeli occupation. However, Mr. Assi never engaged in violent activity towards Israel or the United States. The devices which were intercepted were not offensive weapons. He  did not ship weapons to members of Hezbollah and was not involved in any conspiracies to harm civilians or military personnel."

- Assi's Sentencing Memorandum (Added 12/13/08) Assi submitted this handwritten filing.

- Findings of Fact (Added 12/13/08) This document summarizes the investigation. In December 2008, Assi was sentenced to ten years in prison.

• United States v. Bajram Asllani (Material support for terrorists)

- Complaint (Added 6/18/10) In Bajram Asllani, 29, a resident of Mitrovica, Kosovo, was charged in a criminal complaint with providing material support to terrorists and conspiring to murder, kidnap, maim and injure persons abroad. According to DOJ, "Asllani, also known as 'Bajram Aslani,' or 'Ebu Hatab,' was arrested by authorities in Kosovo in connection with a U.S. provisional arrest warrant issued in the Eastern District of North Carolina." Asllani's arrest is linked to the North Carolina Jihad Cell, which plotted against the Quantico Marine Base. One of the alleged conspirators in that case, "Hysen Sherifi departed from Raleigh for Pristina, Kosovo, on July 30, 2008, to pursue violent jihad. While in Kosovo, Sherifi allegedly formed a relationship with Asllani. Sherifi often referred to Asllani as 'the brother' in Kosovo who was advising him and who was 'wanted.' According to the complaint, Asllani had been arrested by Kosovar law enforcement in 2007 and been placed on house arrest for a period of time. He was later convicted in absentia by a Serbian court in September 2009 for planning terrorist-related offenses and was sentenced to eight years of confinement. According to the complaint, Asllani provided Sherifi with videos related to violent jihad for the purposes of translating them so they could be used to recruit others for violent jihad or to motivate those currently involved in violent jihad. Sherifi, did in fact, translate videos provided him by Asllani, the complaint alleges. The complaint further alleges that Asllani directed Sherifi to collect money for the purpose of later purchasing land and establishing a community in Kosovo, where they could store weapons and ammunition and which they could use as a base of operations for conducting violent jihad in Kosovo and other countries. Sherifi did, in fact, return to the United States on April 5, 2009, and collected money for this purpose, receiving a check for $15,000 in July 2009. Sherifi was arrested on July 27, 2009, before he could take the money back to Asllani in Kosovo."

- DOJ Press Release on Complaint (Added 6/18/10)

- FBI Wanted Poster: Bajram Asllani (Added 7/26/10) The FBI issued an alert seeking Bajram Asllani, who was charged in a criminal complaint with providing material support to terrorists for his connection to the North Carolina jihad cell. According to DOJ, Asllani directed a member of the network "to collect money for the purpose of later purchasing land and establishing a community in Kosovo, where they could store weapons and ammunition and which they could use as a base of operations for conducting violent jihad in Kosovo and other countries." Asllani was arrested in Kosovo, but his extradition was rejected by a panel of judges. 

• United States v. Anwar al-Awlaki (False statement on passport application; Alleged Al-Qaida links)

- Warrant for Arrest (Added 12/11/09) In June 2002, a warrant was issued in federal court in Colorado for the arrest of Al-Qaida-linked cleric Anwar al-Awlaki for making a false statement on a passport application. The warrant was subsequently rescinded. David Gaouette, the Assistant U.S. Attorney who supervised the case and currently U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado, commented, "It was a determination of our office that we couldn't prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt and we asked the court to withdraw the complaint." Al-Awlaki had repeated contacts with Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan and lauded Hasan as a hero following the attack.

- Congressman Frank Wolf Letter to FBI Director Robert Mueller (Added 6/14/10) In a May 2010 letter to FBI Director Robert Mueller, Virginia Congressman Frank Wolf requested clarification regarding “a recent report that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) ordered…al Qaeda recruiter Anwar Aulaqi be released from detention at Kennedy Airport in October 2002, allowing him to re-enter the United States with impunity, despite an outstanding warrant for his arrest.”

- U.S. Treasury Designation (Added 7/19/10) The U.S. Department of the Treasury designated U.S. citizen Anwar al-Awlaki, identifying him as "a key leader for al-Qa'ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)". Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Stuart Levey noted that "He has involved himself in every aspect of the supply chain of terrorism -- fundraising for terrorist groups, recruiting and training operatives, and planning and ordering attacks on innocents." According to the statement, "Aulaqi has pledged an oath of loyalty to AQAP emir, Nasir al-Wahishi, and plays a major role in setting the strategic direction for AQAP. Aulaqi has also recruited individuals to join AQAP, facilitated training at camps in Yemen in support of acts of terrorism, and helped focus AQAP's attention on planning attacks on U.S. interests."

- (Backgrounder) Anwar al Awlaki: Pro Al-Qaida Ideologue with Influence in the West (Added 7/19/10) U.S. government agencies are increasingly concerned about the ability of pro-Jihad ideologues to use the Internet to incite U.S.-based Muslims to conduct terrorist attacks. Indeed, there have been several terrorism cases in the years since 9/11 in which actors based in Western countries were influenced by lectures, writings, and videos downloaded from the Internet that were generated by spiritual figures and strategists living in the Middle East and elsewhere. Anwar al Awlaki, an American who lives in Yemen, who is regarded as an Islamic scholar, may be an influential player in Al-Qaida’s efforts to radicalize and incite American Muslims to commit terrorist acts. His lectures on leaderless jihad were downloaded by, and provided inspiration to, the conspirators in the 2006-07 plot to attack Fort Dix. In early January of 2009, al Awlaki published an essay titled “44 Ways to Support Jihad” on his web site. The paper is targeted to a young, English-speaking , Muslim audience and calls for armed and financial support of Jihad against the “kuffar.” In the weeks since its initial publication to the web site, it has been reposted to hundreds of other sites. This backgrounder on Anwar al Awlaki discusses his experience in the United States, his reputation as an ideologue, and his connections to Al-Qaida.

• United States v. Hasan Ali Ayesh & William Miller (Structuring; wire fraud; naturalization fraud; JTTF probe):

- DOJ Press Release on Indictment (Added 7/28/08) In March 2004, following a probe by the JTTF, federal prosecutors in Arkansas indicted Hasan Ali Ayesh and William Miller. As DOJ explained, "Ayesh was charged with 650 counts of structuring currency transactions to avoid federal reporting requirements. Miller was charged with aiding and assisting Ayesh in his structuring activities. Both men were charged with one count of wire fraud." Further, "The indictment states that Ayesh operated a convenience store and gas station known as The Fast Market in West Memphis, Arkansas. Ayesh deposited numerous two party checks each day into his business bank account. The indictment charges that between March 15, 1999 and May 27, 2003, Ayesh made 650 structured withdrawals from this account mostly by writing checks payable to Cash or Fast Market in the amount of $9,900 and cashing these checks at the bank. These structured withdrawals totaled $6,435,000 in cash withdrawn from his Union Planters Bank account. According to the indictment, Ayesh did this because he did not want the IRS to know he was moving such large amounts of cash out of his business because it would affect his ability to receive financial aide from the State of Tennessee as well as allow him to avoid paying taxes on his income. Additionally, the indictment charges that Ayesh was sending some of this money overseas to family members living in Palestinian controlled territories."

- Plea Agreement (Added 7/28/08) In November 2004, Ayesh pled guilty to structuring, wire fraud, and naturalization fraud.

- Government Sentencing Memorandum (Added 7/28/08) Federal prosecutors requested that Ayesh's citizenship be revoked. He was sentenced to five years probation and had his citizenship revoked.

- Judgment (Added 7/28/08) Miller pled guilty to wire fraud and was sentenced to probation.

• United States v. Mohammed Junaid Babar (Material support to Al-Qaida):

- Sealed Information According to this filing in New York federal court, Babar "attempted to and did make and receive a contribution of funds, goods, and services to, and for the benefit of, al Qaeda...by providing military gear to others who transported the gear to al Qaeda associates in South Waziristan, Pakistan, and by traveling to South Waziristan, Pakistan to provide military gear and money to al Qaeda associates there."

• United States v. Sajid Badat (Shoe bomb plotter; material support to Al-Qaida):

- DOJ Press Release on Indictment (Added 12/20/07) In September 2004, DOJ indicted British citizen Sajid Badat on a number of charges, including conspiracy to destroy an aircraft and conspiracy to commit homicide. Federal prosecutors asserted he conspired with Richard Reid “to detonate homemade bombs hidden in shoes on American aircraft in 2001.” Badat, who received terrorist training in Pakistan and Afghanistan, dropped out of the shoe bomb plot at the last minute. In April 2005, Badat was sentenced to 13 years in prison in England after pleading guilty in February 2005 to conspiracy to destroy, damage or endanger an aircraft.

- State Department Designation (Added 12/20/07) In December 2005, the State Department designated Badat a foreign terrorist, which followed the United Nations 1267 Committee's announcement that it had added Badat's name to its list of terrorists.

- DNI Fact Sheet on 'Ali 'Abd al-'Aziz 'Ali (Added 4/19/08) According to this Director of National Intelligence document, in late 2001 in Afghanistan, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed directed 'Ali 'Abd al-'Aziz 'Ali "to be the communications intermediary between al-Qa'ida and 'shoe bombers' Richard Reid and Saajid Badat."

- 9/11 Commission Report Re: Shoe Bombs and 9/11 (Added 4/19/08) According to the 9/11 Commission Report, in Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's initial plan for 9/11, "operatives would hijack U.S.-flagged commercial planes flying Pacific routes across East Asia and destroy them in midair, possibly with shoe bombs, instead of flying them into targets."

- NEFA Foundation "Target: America" Report "KSM's Transatlantic Shoe Bomb Plot"

• United States v. Jamal Al-Badawi & Fahd Al-Quso (USS Cole bombing and failed USS Sullivans attack):

- Indictment (Added 4/10/08) In May 2003, DOJ announced the indictments of Yemeni nationals Jamal Ahmed Mohammed Ali Al-Badawi and Fahd Al-Quso for "plotting al Qaeda’s October 2000 attack on the USS Cole in the harbor of Aden, Yemen, in which 17 American sailors were killed." Further, Badawi was "charged with attempting with coconspirators to attack the U.S. naval vessel the USS The Sullivans in January 2000, while that vessel was refueling in the port of Aden." Badawi is identified as "a key al Qaeda operative in Aden recruited by members of Usama bin Laden’s inner circle..."

- DOJ Press Release on Indictment (Added 12/20/07) 

• United States v. Haji Bagcho (Afghan Narcotics Trafficker):

- Indictment (Added 7/14/09) Alleged Afghan narcotics trafficker Haji Bagcho was charged in a two-count indictment with one count of conspiracy to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin knowing and intending that it would be imported into the United States and one count of distribution of one kilogram or more of heroin knowing and intending that it be imported into the United States. According to open source reporting, he had a "symbiotic relationship" with the Taliban.

 - DOJ Press Release on Detention Order (Added 7/14/09) Bagcho ordered detained while awaiting trial in Washington, DC.

• United States v. Dhiren Barot et al. (East coast buildings plot):

- Indictment In April 2005, U.S. prosecutors announced the indictment of Dhiren Barot, Nadeem Tarmohamed, and Qaisar Shaffi on charges of conspiring to use weapons of mass destruction, providing material support to terrorists, and conspiring to destroy buildings. Barot and his coconspirators conducted chillingly detailed surveillance on the Citigroup Center, the New York Stock Exchange, the Prudential Plaza, the International Monetary Fund Building, and the World Bank. By striking at the heart of the U.S. economy, Barot hoped to further Usama Bin Laden's goal of "bleeding America to the point of bankruptcy" and, in the words of a senior Justice Department official, "kill as many Americans as possible."

- DOJ Press Release on Indictment

- Metropolitan Police Service Press Release on Charges In August 2004, Dhiren Barot, Nadeem Tarmohamed, Qaisar Shaffi, Mohammed Naveed Bhatti, Abdul Aziz Jalil, Omar Abdul Rehman, Junade Feroze, and Zia Ul-Haq were charged in England with conspiring to commit murder. Matthew Phillip Monks was charged with possession of a prohibited weapon.

- Metropolitan Police Service Press Release on Barot Sentencing Barot, who attended terrorist training camps in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the Philippines, pled guilty in October 2006, admitting he conspired to commit murder in the U.K. and the U.S. In November 2006, Barot was jailed for life, though that sentence was reduced to thirty years on appeal. According to the Met Police, Barot and his cell plotted mass-casualty, coordinated attacks in the U.K., “including detonating a dirty bomb, launching an attack on a train and packing three limousines with gas cylinders and explosives before setting them off in underground car parks." Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke, head of the Met Counter Terrorism Command, said, “He is a full-time terrorist. His training showed through. He used anti-surveillance, coded messages and secret meetings...”

- Crown Prosecution Service Press Release on Barot Sentencing This press release pointed out that "the charge of conspiracy to murder covered a four year period and included a wide range criminal activity, involving plans for attacks in the UK and attacks on buildings in the USA, including: the IMF and World Bank buildings, Washington; the New York Stock Exchange and Citigroup buildings, New York; and the Prudential Building, Newark, New Jersey."

- Crown Prosecution Service Press Release on Qaisar Shaffi Conviction In June 2007, Shaffi, a member of "one of the most dangerous terrorist cells in the UK," was convicted of conspiracy to murder. Junade Feroze, Zia Ul Haq, Abdul Aziz Jalil,  Omar Abdur Rehman, and Nadeem Tarmohamed, pled guilty to causing explosions before Shaffi's trial.

- Metropolitan Police Service Press Release on Conviction and Sentencing of Barot's Support Cell In June 2007, Qaisar Shaffi was sentenced to 15 years in jail. The six other support cell members were sentenced to between 15 and 26 years in prison. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke, head of the Met Counter Terrorism Command, commented, “…they were the planning team and were needed by Barot to contribute expertise in areas that he was lacking. They were the trusted few who researched, carried out reconnaissance and supported Barot. Each had a different role to play. Barot needed minders and drivers - people who could look after him as he carried out reconnaissance and conducted his meetings. He needed people to carry out research,15 gain access to specialist libraries, supply vehicles, false identities and travel documents, bank accounts, money and safe houses. These terrorists were skilled in anti-surveillance techniques, the use of coded messages and arranging secret meetings. Indeed, on one occasion Feroze and Jalil travelled literally hundreds of miles to use an internet café before returning to London to continue with their planning. “

- NEFA "Target: America" Report "The East Coast Buildings Plot"

• United States v. Narseal Batiste et al. (Miami cell targeting federal buildings and the Sears Tower):

- Indictment On June 22, 2006, Narseal Batiste, Patrick Abraham, Stanley Grant Phanor, Naudimar Herrera, Burson Augustin, Lyglenson Lemorin and Rothschild Augustine were indicted in Miami, Florida on four counts, including conspiring to provide material support to Al-Qaida and conspiring to levy war against the U.S. government. The indictment alleges that “Batiste recruited and supervised individuals in order to organize and train for a mission to wage war against the U.S. government, which included a plot to destroy by explosives the Sears Tower in Chicago, Illinois.”

- DOJ Press Release on Indictment

- Government's Motion for Pretrial Detention According to this document, Batiste hoped to “wage a ‘full ground war’
against the United States in order to ‘kill all the devils we can,’ in a mission that would ‘be just as good or greater than 9/11." In addition to plotting to use explosives to destroy the Sears Towers, the men allegedly “agreed to assist in a fictitious al Qaeda plot” “to use explosives to destroy the offices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Miami, Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, and Washington D.C."

- Government's Motion to Disqualify the Federal Public Defender's Office from Representing Defendant Narseal Batiste Based on Conflict of Interest This government filing discloses the involvement of Chicago resident Charles Stewart (a.k.a. Sultan Khanbey). Stewart traveled to Miami with his wife (known as Queen Zakayaah) and, during a meeting at the warehouse monitored by the government, discussed “bringing about a revolution to help the people” with Batiste. Stewart spoke of nationalizing “10,000 people into the Moorish nation.” Stewart asserted that they were “‘vanguards’ and ‘angels’ here to rid the Earth of filth, that they were a nation and would do what nations do, and that as long as they stood on Islam, they were impregnable.”

- Government's Response in Opposition to Defendant Narseal Batiste's Motion to Dismiss Overt Acts in the Indictment According to this document, "Batiste first came to the attention of law enforcement in late October, 2005, when it was reported that Batiste discussed with others his desire to form an army and fight jihad from within the United States in order to overthrow the government."

- Report and Recommendation on Defendants' Motions to Suppress Videotape Evidence and Derivative Evidence In this filing, the government argues against the defense's efforts to "suppress the silent video recordings made of them at the warehouse between March 16 and March 30, 2006, by means of a video surveillance system that the FBI installed inside the warehouse without a warrant prior to March 16, 2006."

- Acquittal: Lyglenson Lemorin (Added 12/13/07) In December 2007, a jury deadlocked on the fate of six of the men; Lyglenson Lemorin was acquitted on all charges but still faces deportation.

- DOJ Press Release on Convictions (Added 5/12/09) After two mistrials, a Miami jury convicted five individuals on multiple charges, including conspiring to provide material support to Al-Qaida and conspiracy to levy war against the U.S. The ringleader, Narseal Batiste, was the only defendant convicted on all charges. A sixth defendant, Naudimar Herrera, was acquitted on all counts. In December 2007, another defendant, Lyglenson Lemorin, was acquitted but still faces deportation.

- Government's Sentencing Memorandum (Added 11/23/09) In its sentencing memorandum, DOJ wrote, "evidence amply supported that Batiste wanted to wage violent war, or 'jihad,' against the United States government. In order to accomplish this objective, Batiste formed and trained an army of soldiers to wage this war – defendants voluntarily agreed to join his military-style and cult-like organization. In order to fund this mission, Batiste sought the assistance of a foreign terrorist organization, in doing so, he was emulating a man by the name of Jeff Fort, who was found guilty of terrorism charges in the 1980s in connection with a plan to provide material support to Libya in exchange for $2 million. The evidence showed that the originator of this plan was Batiste, not a government agent or informant."

- NEFA Foundation "Target: America" Report "The Miami Plot to Bomb Federal Buildings & the Sears Tower"

• United States v. Sabri Benkahla (Virginia Lashkar-e-Taiba "paintball network"):

- Indictment (Added 2/17/08) Sabri Benkahla was indicted in February 2006 on obstruction of justice and perjury charges. As DOJ explains, "this investigation arose as part of the investigation of individuals attending the Dar al Arqam Islamic Center in Falls Church, Virginia. In June 2003, Benkahla and ten others were indicted by a grand jury in Alexandria for conspiring to commit various offenses including mounting expeditions to attack India in Kashmir and Russia in Chechnya in the course of training for jihad in Virginia and Pakistan...In September 2003, in a superseding indictment...Sabri Benkahla was charged with supplying services to the Taliban, and using a firearm in furtherance of that offense in connection with his alleged participation in a jihad training camp in Afghanistan in July 1999." In March 2004, Benkahla was acquitted.

However, when called to testify before a grand jury, Benkahla made false statements, denying he attended a jihad training camp in 1999, and asserting a lack of knowledge about individuals with whom he was in contact. Those individuals included Ibrahim Buisir of Ireland and Manaf Kasmuri of Malaysia, both Specially Designated Global Terrorists; DOJ also sought to question Benkahla about this contacts with Ahmed Abu Ali, a friend convicted of plotting to assassinate President Bush, as well as Malik al-Tunisi, a facilitator for the al-Zarqawi terrorist network in Iraq.

- DOJ Press Release on Conviction (Added 2/17/08) In February 2007, Benkahla was convicted of two counts of perjury before the grand jury, one count of obstruction of justice with respect to the grand jury investigation, and one count of making false official statements to the FBI. NEFA Senior Investigator Evan Kohlmann testified as an expert witness on behalf of the Department of Justice in the trial.

- DOJ Press Release on Sentencing (Added 2/17/08) In July 2007, Benkahla was sentenced to 121 months in jail.

- 4th Circuit Court of Appeals Ruling (Added 7/5/08) The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the February 2007 conviction of Sabri Benkahla on two counts of perjury before a grand jury, one count of obstruction of justice with respect to a grand jury investigation, and one count of making false official statements to the FBI. Commenting on Benkahla's criticism of the expert witness testimony of NEFA Senior Investigator Evan Kohlmann, the court stated, "Benkahla also attacks Kohlmann’s qualifications as an expert, but those qualifications were obviously substantial and the district court acted well within its discretion in determining that they were sufficient." Additionally, rejecting Benkahla's argument that the prosecution was double jeopardy, the court ruled, "It was legitimate to ask Benkahla, even post-acquittal, about his jihadist training in Pakistan or Afghanistan, and it was legitimate to prosecute him when he spoke falsely about it."

• United States v. Bilal Adullah Ben Benu (Weapons violations; Al-Fuqra; Charges dismissed):

- Indictment (Added 7/30/08) In September 2001, Al-Fuqra member Bilal Adullah Ben Benu was indicted in Virginia on weapons charges.

- Superseding Indictment (Added 7/30/08) Additional weapons charges were filed.

- Memorandum Opinion (Added 7/30/08) In July 2002, a judge rejected a motion to dismiss.

- Dismissal Order (Added 7/30/08) In November 2002, the case against Bilal Adullah Ben Benu was dismissed. 

• United States v. Soliman Biheiri (Fraudulently procured passport; business dealings w/ Hamas leader):

- Indictment (Added 7/28/08) Soliman Biheiri was indicted in Virginia for making false statements and fraudulently procuring a passport. According to the indictment, "Biheiri falsely stated to agents of the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement that he did not have a social or business relationship with Mousa Abu Marzook, and that he had never handled any money for, or on behalf of, Marzook." Marzook is a senior Hamas leader. Moreover, "Biheiri falsely stated to agents of the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement that he had never had a personal or business relationship with Sami Al-Arian." Al-Arian has admitted his involvement with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

- ICE Press Release on Conviction (Added 7/28/08) In October 2004, Biheiri was convicted of one count of making false statements under oath. Explaining the case history, ICE stated, "In early October 2004, Count Two of the indictment, which pertained to Sami Al-Arian, was dismissed. On October 6, 2004, Biheiri pleaded guilty to fraudulently procuring a U.S. passport. A jury trial then commenced on the charge relating to Biheiri's statements about his relationship with Mousa Abu Marzook -- ultimately resulting in Biheiri’s conviction."

- ICE Fact Sheet (Added 7/28/08) According to ICE, "At trial, the government presented evidence that Biheiri had managed funds for Marzook both before and after Marzook was designated as a terrorist by the U.S. government in 1995. Specifically, the government presented files seized from Biheiri’s computer showing that Marzook had invested $1 million in U.S. business ventures managed by Biheiri and his now-defunct Islamic investment firm BMI, Inc. Biheiri was first arrested by ICE agents in June 2003 pursuant to a material witness warrant issued by the Eastern District of Virginia and was subsequently indicted on three counts of immigration violations."

• United States v. Moussa Bitar (Identity theft; false use of social security number; terror watch list?):

- Complaint (Added 7/28/08) Bitar, who, according to press reports was on the terrorist watch list, was charged with fraudulently procuring a passport. He used the name Sergio Soto when applying for his passport.

- Indictment (Added 7/28/08) Bitar was indicted in Colorado for making a false statement in an application for a passport, aggravated identity theft, and false use of a social security number.

- Plea Agreement (Added 7/28/08) In July 2007, Bitar pled guilty to aggravated identity theft and false use of a social security number.

- Judgment (Added 7/28/08) Bitar was sentenced to two years in prison in October 2007.

• United States v. Viktor Bout (Arms dealer; material support to FARC; links to Taliban):

- Complaint (Added 3/7/08) Federal prosecutors in New York announced the unsealing of charges against Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout and his associate Andrew Smulian "for conspiring to sell millions of dollars worth of weapons to the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (the 'FARC') -- a designated foreign terrorist organization based in Colombia." According to authorities, "between November 2007 and February 2008, BOUT and SMULIAN agreed to sell to the FARC millions of dollars worth of weapons –- including surface-to-air missile systems ('SAMs') and armor piercing rocket launchers. During a series of recorded telephone calls and emails, BOUT and SMULIAN agreed to sell the weapons to two confidential sources working with the DEA (the 'CSs'), who held themselves out as FARC representatives acquiring these weapons for the FARC for use in Colombia." The U.S. plans to seek Bout's extradition from Thailand, where he was arrested.

- DOJ Press Release on Complaint (Added 3/7/08)

- Remarks by Michael J. Garcia: U.S. Attorney for the SDNY (Added 3/7/08) Garcia asserted that Bout's arrest "marks the end of the reign of one of the world's most wanted arms traffickers."

- DEA Press Release on Arrest (Added 3/7/08) If Bout and Smulian are convicted, they face a maximum of 15 years in prison.

- Treasury Department Designation of Bout Network (Added 3/7/08) In April 2005, the U.S. Treasury Department "identified 30 companies and four individuals linked to Viktor Bout, an international arms dealer and war profiteer...[The] action took place pursuant to Executive Order 13348, which targets family members and associates of former Liberian President Charles Ghankay Taylor." According to the Treasury statement, "shortly after the breakup of the Soviet Union, Bout, a former Soviet air force officer with a gift for languages, was able to acquire surplus or obsolete airplanes which he used to deliver arms and ammunition from old Soviet stockpiles. The high profits he garnered supplying military equipment to rebel groups and sanctioned regimes allowed him to expand his business. Notably, information available to the U.S. Government shows that Bout profited $50 million from supplying the Taliban with military equipment when they ruled Afghanistan."

- Treasury Department Chart of Bout Network (Added 3/7/08) This chart displays the links in the Bout network. 

- Indictment (Added 5/6/08) Federal prosecutors in New York announced the unsealing of an indictment charging Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout with conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals, conspiracy to acquire and use an anti-aircraft missile, and conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. According to DOJ, "the United States is actively pursuing Bout’s extradition from Thailand."

- DOJ Press Release on Indictment (Added 5/6/08) 

- Superseding Indictment (Added 3/03/10) Federal prosecutors in New York announced the unsealing of a superseding indictment charging Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout and his associate Richard Ammar Chichakli with conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act in connection with their efforts to purchase two aircraft from companies located in the United States, in violation of economic sanctions which prohibited such financial transactions. The Indictment also charged Bout and Chichakli with money laundering conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, and six separate counts of wire fraud, in connection with these financial transactions. According to DOJ, "Bout, an international weapons trafficker since the 1990s, has carried out a massive weapons-trafficking business by assembling a fleet of cargo airplanes capable of transporting weapons and military equipment to various parts of the world, including Africa, South America, and the Middle East. The arms that Bout has sold or brokered have fueled conflicts and supported regimes in Afghanistan, Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Sudan. Chichakli, an American citizen, has been a close associate of Bout since at least the mid-1990s, assisting in the operations and financial management of Bout's network of aircraft companies."

- DOJ Press Release on Superseding Indictment (Added 3/03/10) 

•  United States v. Yaser Khareddin Bushnaq (Naturalization fraud; alleged Muslim Brotherhood ties)

- Indictment (Added 1/30/08) Yaser Bushnaq, named as an unindicted coconspirator in the Holy Land Foundation (HLF) prosecution and identified as a member of the U.S. Muslim Brotherhood's Palestine Committee, has been indicted in Virginia for unlawful procurement of citizenship. Prosecutors allege that Bushnaq failed to disclose a number of affiliations on his Application for Naturalization. DOJ notes that Bushnaq, otherwise known as "Yaser Saleh," served as President of the Islamic Association for Palestine (IAP), "an overt arm of the covert organization known as the Muslim Brotherhood." A mountain of evidence tying IAP to Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood was presented during the HLF trial, including checks documenting the more than $850,000 Hamas leader Mousa Abu Marzook gave to IAP. Moreover, Bushnaq did not disclose that between 1993 and 1995, he was a member of the Al-Aqsa Education Fund's (AAEF) Board of Trustees. Abdehaleem Ashqar, who organized the 1993 Philadelphia meeting of U.S. Palestine Committee members, ran the AAEF, which prosecutors assert "sought to raise funds for Hamas." And Bushnaq also obscured his role as "an authorized signatory for the financial accounts of the Marzook Legal Fund...an organization created to...provide financial support to a leader of Hamas [Mousa Abu Marzook] imprisoned in the United States..." 

• United States v. Cedric Carpenter & Lamont Ranson (False document sales; Abu Sayyaf sting):

- Information (Added 4/9/08) The Information alleged that New Orleans residents Cedric Carpenter and Lamont Ranson "agreed to produce false identification documents, namely, Mississippi driver’s licenses, Social Security cards, and birth certificates, knowing that the intended recipients of the false identification documents were represented to be members of Abu Sayyaf." Moreover, "beginning in June 2004, Carpenter and Ranson had discussions with confidential informants of the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), about a proposal to produce false identification documents for a group of individuals identified as members of Abu Sayyaf. Ranson was familiar with Abu Sayyaf from his prior service with the U.S. Navy in Far East."

- ICE Press Release on Guilty Pleas (Added 4/9/08) In February 2005, Carpenter and Ranson admitted their involvement in a conspiracy to sell false documents to purported members of Abu Sayyaf.

- ICE Press Release on Sentencing (Added 4/9/08) In May 2005, Carpenter was sentenced to 63 months of imprisonment; Ranson was sentenced to 29 months in jail.

• United States v. Talal Chahine et al. (Michigan businessman with alleged Hezbollah ties):

- Indictment: Tax Evasion In May 2006, prosecutors in Michigan unsealed an indictment against Talal Khalil Chahine, the owner of the “La Shish” restaurant chain, and Elfat El Aouar, a “La Shish” financial manager and Chahine’s wife. According to DOJ, "Talal Chahine and Elfat El Aouar collaborated in a scheme to skim cash proceeds from the restaurants for the tax years 2000 through 2003. During those tax years, it is alleged, La Shish, Inc. maintained a double set of computerized books, records and balance reports, one actual and one altered. The altered records artificially reduced the amount of cash that was actually received by the restaurants. Talal Chahine and Elfat El Aouar oversaw the maintenance of the double set of books, as well as the skimming and concealment of more than $16,000,000 in cash received by the restaurants."

- DOJ Press Release on Indictment: Tax Evasion

- Superseding Indictment: Tax Evasion In May 2007, Chahine was charged with an additional count of tax evasion.

- DOJ Press Release on Superseding Indictment: Tax Evasion

- Indictment: Bribery, Conspiracy, and Extortion Announced in October 2007, this indictment charged Roy Bailey "with misusing his position as the Assistant District Director with INS and, thereafter, as the Field Office Director at DHS-ICE by accepting large sums of currency and other property in return for granting immigration benefits, including the release of several individuals who were being kept in the custody of INS and DHS-ICE." Moreover, "CHAHINE and BAILEY were charged with conspiring to use BAILEY’s position at INS and at DHS-ICE to extort money from former employees of the La Shish restaurant business." Three others were also indicted on bribery, conspiracy, and extortion charges.

- DOJ Press Release on Indictment: Bribery, Conspiracy, and Extortion

- Indictment: Naturalization Fraud Chahine was indicted for his role in a naturalization fraud scheme perpetrated by his sister-in-law, Nada Nadim Prouty, who served as a FBI Special Agent and a CIA officer.

- Background on Chahine's Alleged Ties to Hezbollah This document reveals that "in August 2002, Elfat Al Aouar and [Talal] Chahine attended a fund raising event in Lebanon. The keynote speakers for the event were Talal Chahine and Sheikh Muhammad Hussein Fadlallah [Hizballah's chief 'spiritual leader']. Chahine sat to the right of Fadlallah, a position of prominence in the Middle East, spoke from the same podium as Fadlallah, and conferred with him privately. Chahine was the representative at the event of a worldwide group of fund raisers. The government is in possession of a video tape of this event as well as still photographs showing El Aouar and Chahine's participation." The event was a fundraiser for Al-Mabarrat, a charity whose Dearborn, Michigan office was raided in July 2007.

Additionally, according to the court filing, "among the items seized from El Aouar's residence on April 19, 2005 was a letter, written in Arabic and translated by a FBI Language Specialist, thanking Chahine for sponsoring 40 Lebanese orphans during the years 2000-2001...The government is aware that the sponsorship of orphans is a euphemism used by Hizballah to refer to the orphans of martyrs." And, "other evidence observed at El Aouar's residence during the searches included several photo albums depicting images of Talal Chahine and his family. These images showed Chahine and his family posing in and around a Hizballah outpost in Lebanon.

- DOJ Press Release on Elfat El Aouar Guilty Plea: Tax Evasion El Aouar, who is Chahine's husband, pled guilty to one count of income tax evasion in December 2006.

- DOJ Press Release on Elfat El Aouar Sentencing: Tax Evasion El Aouar was sentenced to eighteen months in prison.

- Plea Agreement: Mohamad Arzouni (Added 3/11/09) Roy Bailey's co-conspirator pled guilty in October 2008 for conspiring to defraud the United States in an immigration scheme.

- DOJ Press Release on Bailey Guilty Plea (Added 9/18/08) Roy Bailey, the former Assistant Director of the Detroit office of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), pled guilty in Michigan federal court to charges of bribery, conspiracy to defraud the United States and misprision of felony. Bailey conspired with indicted La Shish restaurant owner Talal Chahine, whom federal prosecutors have linked to Hezbollah, in a scheme by which foreign born La Shish employees obtained immigration benefits, including permanent resident status, through the use of false marriages arranged with U.S. citizens who also worked at La Shish.

- U.S. Government Sentencing Memorandum: Bailey (Added 3/11/09) Federal prosecutors wrote that "Whether measured by its breadth, its duration or by the hundreds, if not thousands, of individual immigration aliens who were its victims, the criminal activity in this case can only be described as shocking. Roy Bailey’s deliberate and repeated actions reveal a stark pattern of greed and self aggrandizement at the expense of integrity, honor and professionalism, qualities that the public has every reason and every right to expect from it’s most senior government officials. In his position as a high ranking law enforcement official who exercised discretion over the liberty and lives of thousand of immigration detainees, Roy Bailey’s crimes are, quite simply, a betrayal. That Mr. Bailey chose to corrupt and to profit from a system populated by some of the most vulnerable members of this society, illegal aliens, with little if any support, cultural standing or advocates, cries out for punishment."

• United States v. Ali Asad Chandia & Mohammed Ajmal Khan (Virginia Lashkar-e-Taiba network):

- DOJ Press Release on Indictment  (Added 1/23/08) On September 14, 2005, a federal grand jury indicted Chandia, a Maryland resident, and Mohammed Ajmal Khan, a British citizen of Pakistani descent, for providing material support to Lashkar-e-Taiba, a designated foreign terrorist organization. The press release noted that "Chandia's arrest and the indictment are a continuation of the 'Virginia Jihad' investigations in Northern Virginia. Those investigations have led to 10 convictions to date, including the conviction of the spiritual leader of the Virginia Jihad network, Ali Al-Timimi." Chandia was Al-Timimi's former "personal assistant." Khan was tried and convicted in England.

- DOJ Press Release on Sentencing (Added 1/23/08) On August 25, 2006, Chandia was sentenced to 15 years in jail for conspiring to, and providing material support to, Lashkar-e-Taiba. DOJ wrote that "the evidence at trial established that during a three-month trip to Pakistan in 2001-2002, Chandia met and allied himself with Mohammed Ajmal Khan...Khan, who is currently serving a nine-year sentence in the United Kingdom for directing a terrorist organization (Lashkar-e-Taiba), served as a military procurement official for Lashkar-e-Taiba." Moreover, "in a search of Chandia’s home conducted on May 8, 2003, the FBI found audiotapes and other materials manifesting his commitment to violent jihad. On the front seat of Chandia’s car, the FBI also found a CD-ROM containing videos glorifying the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Osama bin Laden, and the nineteen hijackers who carried out the attacks." NEFA Senior Investigator Evan Kohlmann testified as an expert witness in this trial, as well as in Khan's trial in England.

- Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals Opinion (Added 1/23/08) In its ruling, the appeals court affirmed Chandia’s convictions but vacated his sentence and remanded Chandia for resentencing. The court stated, "While it is true that Chandia did not...dispute the allegations that he provided support to Ajmal Khan by, for instance, helping him ship paintballs to Pakistan, these facts alone do not support application of the [terrorism] enhancement. Unlike in some cases where the enhancement has been applied, the acts underlying the conviction in this case were not violent terrorist acts...Therefore, these acts cannot, standing alone, support application of the terrorism enhancement."

• United States v. Yi-Lan Chen (Iran export violations):

- Complaint (Added 2/09/10) Federal prosecutors in Florida announced that Yi-Lan Chen, a Taiwan passport holder, was arrested on charges of illegally exporting commodities for Iran’s missile program. According to DOJ, "Chen facilitated the purchase and export of various dual use goods from the U.S. to Iran by way of Taiwan and Hong Kong...The complaint alleges that Chen caused dual use goods to be exported from the U.S., including P200 Turbine Engines and spare parts, MIL-S-8516 Sealing Compound, Glass to Metal Pin Seals, and Circular Hermetic Connectors (Model MIL-C-81703)." Further, "federal agents learned of Chen’s efforts to obtain and export U.S. goods and commodities after Chen attempted to export detonators through a California company using unsatisfactory information in documents regarding Chen’s ultimate customers. The investigation revealed that Chen’s ultimate customers for the dual use exports listed in the complaint are all in Iran."

• United States v. Zachary Adam Chesser (Material Support to Al-Shabaab):

- Affidavit of FBI Special Agent Mary Brandt Kinder (Added 7/22/10) Jihadist blogger Zachary Adam Chesser (a.k.a. Abu Talhah Al-Amrikee), who allegedly made online threats against the creators of South Park, was accused in Virginia federal court of providing material support to Al-Shabaab. As DOJ explained, Chesser "volunteered to federal agents that he attempted on two occasions to travel to Somalia to join al Shabaab as a foreign fighter. After he was prevented from boarding a flight from New York to Uganda on July 10, 2010, Chesser allegedly admitted to agents that he intended to travel from Uganda to Somalia. Chesser had attempted to board the plane with his infant son, and court records allege that he brought his son with him as part of his 'cover' to avoid detection of his intention to join al Shabaab in Somalia. The court affidavit indicates that in a series of interviews with federal law enforcement, Chesser allegedly discussed in detail how he has maintained several online profiles dedicated to extremist jihad propaganda. These profiles were allegedly used by Chesser to post pro-jihad messages and videos online. These postings allegedly included an article detailing the prerequisites involved in leaving for jihad, which closely follows the steps Chesser took before his July 10 attempt to leave the United States in order to go fight in Somalia." The affidavit also notes that Chesser "preferred" the teachings of Yemeni-American cleric Anwar Awlaki, recently named a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the U.S. government; "he sent Awlaki several email messages and...Awlaki replied to two of them."

- DOJ Press Release on Arrest (Added 7/22/10)

• United States v. Fayez Damra (Tax evasion):

- Indictment (Added 10/26/08) In July 2006, a "federal grand jury in Cleveland returned an indictment, charging Fayez Damra, aka Alex Damra, and Fawaz Damra with conspiring to defraud the United States, tax evasion, and assisting in the preparation and presentation of a materially-false tax return." The charges pertain to "an alleged conspiracy in which Fayez distributed funds from his computer software design corporation, known as Applied Innovation Management, Inc. (AIM), to members of the Damra family, including Fawaz, then deducting those funds as AIM expenses. Fawaz is accused of participating in that conspiracy by receiving from Fayez $100,000 in AIM funds at the end of 1999, and falsely reporting that money as consulting income while deducting non-existent expenses against the AIM funds." Fawaz Damra has been deported from the U.S. and was involved with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Al-Kifah Refugee Center.

- DOJ Press Release on Indictment (Added 10/26/08) 

- U.S. Government Trial Brief (Added 10/26/08) In this filing, the government explains its argument against the Damra brothers.

- IRS Criminal Investigation: Memorandum of Interview (Added 10/26/08) This document summarizes a February 2005 government interview of Fayez Damra.

- Fayez Damra Biography (Added 10/26/08) This document provides extensive background information on Fayez Damra.

- Judgment (Added 10/26/08) Damra was convicted of conspiring to defraud the U.S. and tax evasion and sentenced  to 21 months in prison.

- DOJ Press Release on Sentencing (Added 10/26/08)

• United States v. Fawaz Damra (Naturalization fraud; Palestinian Islamic Jihad):

- Indictment (Added 2/17/08) In December 2003, Ohio imam Fawaz Damra was indicted on naturalization fraud charges. According to DOJ, Damra concealed from the former INS his membership in and/or affiliation with: (1) Afghan Refugees Services, Inc., aka Al-Kifah Refugee Center; (2) Palestinian Islamic Jihad, aka the Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine; and (3) Islamic Committee for Palestine (ICP). The indictment further alleged that Damra "had previously incited and/or assisted others, including terrorist organizations, that advocated the persecution of Jews and others by means of violent terrorist attacks..."

- ICE Press Release on Conviction (Added 2/17/08) In June 2004, Damra was convicted for unlawfully obtaining citizenship through a false or fraudulent application.

- ICE Press Release on Citizenship Revocation (Added 2/17/08) In September 2004, "a federal judge sentenced...Muslim cleric Fawaz Mohammed Damrah to two months prison, four months home confinement, and stripped him of his citizenship...for failing to disclose information on his citizenship application that would have disqualified him for the benefit."

- ICE Press Release on Deportation (Added 2/17/08) In January 2007, Damra was deported. This press release states, "evidence presented during Damrah's criminal trial showed that he exploited the PIJ's [Palestinian Islamic Jihad] terrorist attacks during fundraising activities for the organization. On videotape shown in court of a 1991 fundraising event, Damrah is seen explaining that, '...whoever donates... it is as if he too is fighting the holy war, and he will be rewarded like him, even if he stays home.' During other fundraising events Damrah said, 'terrorism and terrorism alone is the path to liberation.'"

- Treasury Department Fact Sheet on Makhtab al-Khidamat/Al Kifah (Added 2/17/08) According to Treasury, "Makhtab al-Khidamat/Al Kifah (MK) is considered to be the pre-cursor organization to al Qaida and the basis for its infrastructure. MK was initially created by Usama bin Laden’s (UBL) mentor, Shaykh Abdullah Azzam, who was also the spiritual founder of Hamas, as an organization to fund mujahideen in the Soviet-Afghan conflict." Moreover, "after Azzam was killed in 1989, UBL and Sheikh Umar Abd al-Rahman (a.k.a. 'The Blind Sheikh') continued to use MK to recruit fighters for the Soviet-Afghan conflict...MK is known to have provided funds and other support to several charities, including the Al Haramain Foundation (AHF) and the Global Relief Foundation."

- 9/11 Commission Report on Al Kifah (Added 2/17/08) The 9/11 Commission Report pointed out that other Al Kifah branches existed in Atlanta, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Tucson.

- Testimony of former FBI Director Louis Freeh before the 9/11 Commission on Al Kifah (Added 2/17/08) According to Freeh, Al-Kifah's Brooklyn office was a recruiting station "for 'soldiers' from the United to [go to] Afghanistan to fight in the Soviet 'jihad.'"

• United States v. Bassam Darwishahmad (Palestinian Liberation Organization):

- Indictment (Added 2/17/08) In February 2007, Bassam Darwishahmad was indicted in Tennessee on a number of charges, including making false statements on an immigration document.

- DOJ Press Release on Guilty Plea (Added 2/17/08) In April 2007, DOJ announced that "Bassam Darwishahmad pleaded guilty...to one count of 18 USC 1546, false statements on an immigration document. Darwishahmad, a former Palestinian Authority intelligence officer, answered 'No' to a question on an I 485 (petition for permanent resident alien status) which asked 'have you ever engaged in, conspired to engage in, or do you intend to engage in, or have you ever solicited membership or funds for, or have you through any other means ever assisted or provided funds for, or have you through any other means ever assisted or provided any type of material support to any person or organization that has ever engaged in or conspired to engage in sabotage, kidnapping, political assassination, hijacking or any other form of terrorist activity?' Darwishahmad has admitted to members of the Memphis FBI/JTTF that in 1990 he was recruited by members of Fattah, part of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), to bomb an Israeli police station in Nablus, West Bank. Darwishahmad also admitted to JTTF agents that he had, at that time, thrown a bomb at an Israeli bus containing civilians. Darwishahmad had also admitted to a coworker that he had thrown Molotov Cocktails at Israeli soldiers."

- Plea Agreement (Added 2/17/08) Darwishahmad agreed "to cooperate fully and take all steps necessary to expedite his removal from the United States."

- Judgment (Added 2/17/08) Darwishahmad was sentenced to time served.

• United States v. Russell Defreitas et al. (JFK plot):

- Complaint (Added 2/27/08) In June 2007, four individuals -- Russel Defreitas (a former JFK exployee), Abdul Kadir, Kareem Ibrahim, and Abdel Nur -- were charged in a complaint with conspiring "to destroy buildings, fuel tanks, and fuel pipelines at JFK airport with explosives." According to DOJ, "the plot tapped into an international network of Muslim extremists from the United States, Guyana, and Trinidad, and utilized the knowledge, expertise, and contacts of the conspirators to develop and plan the plot, and obtain operational support and capability to carry it out. For example, as part of the plot, the conspirators dispatched DEFREITAS from Guyana to conduct video and photo surveillance of JFK airport on four occasions in January 2007..The defendants used their connections to present their terrorist plot to radical groups in South America and the Caribbean, including senior leadership of Jamaat Al Muslimeen ('JAM'), which was responsible for a deadly coup attempt in Trinidad in 1990."

- DOJ Press Release on Complaint (Added 2/27/08)

- Indictment (Added 2/27/08) The four conspirators were formally indicted on June 28, 2007 in New York federal court.

- FBI 302: Russell Defreitas (Added 1/12/10) During an interview with FBI agents shortly after his arrest, Russell Defreitas admitted that he “was the ‘brain of everything’ and the plan was ‘blow up the tanks’. Defreitas stated that the plan was the damage the tanks and the gas lines and the intention was to hurt the economy of the United States.” He further acknowledged that he had not requested a lawyer earlier because he “did not realize” the FBI “had so much evidence”.

- Search Warrant Log: Abdul Kadir’s House in Guyana (Added 1/12/10) A search of Abdul Kadir’s house in Guyana yielded a firearms license, Iranian literature, Iranian flag pictures, a book titled “The Glory of Martyrdom”, and articles regarding the Israeli Palestinian conflict.

- Search Warrant Log: Russell Defreitas’ Residence in Brooklyn (Added 1/12/10) 

- Government's Memorandum in Support of Its Motion for an Anonymous Jury and Other Related Protective Measures (Added 3/23/10) According to DOJ, "At least two inmates previously housed with [JFK plot conspirator Russell] Defreitas at the Metropolitan Detention Center ('MDC') have reported that Defreitas plotted to cause harm to an anticipated government witness and officers of the court. A confidential source who had been housed in the MDC’s Special Housing Unit along with Defreitas for several months...reported that Defreitas was plotting to have a government witness killed and was also attempting to contact co-conspirators still at large in Guyana to warn them about the possibility of arrest and extradition." DOJ further noted that, "The defendants’ association with the Trinidian militant group JAM also raises concerns about juror safety and the integrity of the judicial process...JAM is notorious for witness tampering and otherwise obstructing the judicial process."

- Government's Reply Memorandum in Support of Its Motion for an Anonymous Jury, in Opposition to Defendant Ibrahim’s Motion to Compel and in Support of Admission of Redacted Statements of the Defendants (Added 4/12/10) A newly filed document in the prosecution of the JFK plotters reveals that “The government intends to offer evidence at trial demonstrating that the defendants attempted to secure the financial and operational support of various terrorist individuals, including Adnan Shukrijumah, an Al-Qaeda operative from the Caribbean region, and various terrorist organisations, including the [Jaamaat-al-Muslimeen].”

- DOJ Letter re: Jewish School (Added 5/12/10) According to a recently filed letter by prosecutors, "The government intends to introduce audio and video recordings of statements made by defendant Russell Defreitas to government witnesses and coconspirators. In those statements, which occurred during, and in furtherance of, the charged conspiracies, defendant Defreitas discusses other crimes and acts in which he had engaged --- including international travel under false names, welfare fraud, building and detonating explosives in Guyana and stealing cargo from John F. Kennedy International Airport ('JFK Airport’) --- as well as additional ideas for criminal activity, including obtaining firearms from a foreign country and attacking targets in the vicinity of JFK Airport, such as a nearby Jewish school or neighborhood."

-  DOJ Press Release on Conviction (Added 8/03/10) Russell Defreitas and Abdul Kadir were convicted in New York federal court of conspiring to attack John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, New York, by exploding fuel tanks and the fuel pipeline under the airport. According to DOJ, "The defendants believed their attack would cause extensive damage to the airport and to the New York economy, as well as the loss of numerous lives...The evidence at trial established that Defreitas, a naturalized United States citizen from Guyana, originated the idea to attack JFK Airport and its fuel tanks and pipelines by drawing on his prior experience working at the airport as a cargo handler. Beginning in 2006, Defreitas recruited others to join the plot, including Abdul Kadir and Abdel Nur, during multiple trips to Guyana and Trinidad. Between trips, Defreitas engaged in video surveillance of JFK Airport, and transported the footage back to Guyana to show to his co-conspirators. Nur pleaded guilty before trial to supporting the plot and faces a sentence of up to 15 years. A fourth member of the plot, Kareem Ibrahim, faces trial on the same charges as Defreitas and Kadir. According to the trial evidence, the plot members also attempted to enlist support for the plot from prominent international terrorist groups and leaders, as well as the government of Iran, including Abu Bakr, leader of the Trinidadian militant group Jamaat Al Muslimeen, and Adnan El Shukrijumah, an al-Qaeda leader. In February 2007, Defreitas recruited Kadir to join the plot because Kadir, a former member of the Guyanese parliament, was an engineer and had connections with militant groups in Iran and Venezuela. During cross-examination at trial, Kadir admitted that he regularly passed information to Iranian authorities and believed himself bound to follow fatwas from Iranian religious leaders."

- NYPD Counter Terrorism Bureau Brief on Plot (Added 3/25/08) A NYPD Counter Terrorism Bureau overview of the plot and its implications has become public

• United States v. Wesam al-Delaema (Attacking U.S. troops in Iraq):

- Indictment (Added 2/17/08) In April 2005, Wesam Delaema, an Iraqi-born Dutch citizen, was indicted in Washington D.C. on a number of charges, including conspiring to murder U.S. nationals outside the U.S. DOJ alleges that "Delaema traveled from the Netherlands to Iraq in October 2003 and met up with a group of co-conspirators calling themselves the 'Mujahideen from Fallujah,' who declared their intentions to kill Americans in Iraq using explosives. The indictment further alleges that Delaema and his co-conspirators hid explosives in a road in the area of Fallujah, Iraq." He was arrested by Dutch law enforcement authorities in May 2005 and faced similar charges in that country.

- DOJ Press Release on Indictment (Added 2/17/08)

- Complaint (Added 2/17/08) In July 2005, Delaema was charged by criminal complaint with participating in a conspiracy to attack Americans based in Iraq,

- DOJ Press Release on Complaint (Added 2/17/08)

- Affidavit of FBI Special Agent Michael O'Callaghan in Support of Criminal Complaint (Added 2/17/08) FBI Special Agent Michael O'Callaghan revealed that when Delaema's home was searched in the Netherlands, "visual recordings were also recovered of numerous attacks against American and Coalition personnel in Iraq." The document adds, "in or about October 2003, while in or around Fallujah, Iraq, Delaema and several associates went during the night to a dirt and gravel road where they videotaped themselves uncovering two artillery shells and detonating cords buried in the road. As they uncovered the explosives, Delaema and his associates discussed the following: (i) that they had placed the bombs 50 meters apart to hit more than one vehicle; (ii) that the American vehicles typically travel along the route where the explosives are buried; (iii) that they would be able to detonate the explosives from 500 meters away with a remote control; and (iv) that the explosives can destroy armored vehicles...After they uncovered each artillery shell and each segment of detonating cord and explained its significance while being videotaped, Delaema and his associates re-covered each artillery shell and each segment of detonating cord with dirt and gravel, so that they would remain buried."

- DOJ Press Release on Arraignment (Added 2/17/08) In January 2007, Delaema was arraigned in D.C. federal court. As DOJ explains, "in September 2005, the United States filed a formal request with the Netherlands seeking Delaema’s extradition. The extradition request was subsequently granted by a Dutch court and then by the Dutch Ministry of Justice. In December 2006, the extradition request was sustained on appeal in the Netherlands. This past weekend, Delaema was flown to the United States, arrested, and taken into custody by the FBI."

- Dutch Police Arrest Report (Added 12/13/08) This Dutch police report provides an overview of Delaema's arrest.

- Dutch Police Report (Added 12/13/08) This 50 page Dutch police report summarizes the investigation.

- Dutch Police Report (Added 12/13/08) This Dutch report summarizes Delaema's phone conversations that authorities intercepted.

- Dutch Police Arrest Report (Added 12/13/08) This Dutch police report notes that Delaema was initially suspected of involvement in the kidnapping and murder of Nick Berg in Iraq.

- Dutch Police Report on Delaema Setting Himself on Fire (Added 12/13/08) During a 2003 protest in Amsterdam against the Iraq war, Delaema set himself on fire "to show Bush what he was doing to the world." This police report summarizes the incident.

- Photos (Added 12/13/08) These photos of Delaema show him being questioned.

- Jail Visitation List (Added 12/13/08) This document lists the individuals who visited Delaema in prison.

- Expert Witness List (Added 12/13/08) This filing reveals DOJ's intent to utilize NEFA Senior Invesigator Evan Kohlmann as an expert witness in the trial. 

- FBI Press Release on Sentencing (Added 4/19/09) Wesam al-Delaema, an Iraqi-born Dutch citizen, "was sentenced to 25 years in prison...for conspiring to murder Americans overseas..." According to the FBI, "al-Delaema travelled to Fallujah in October 2003. There, al-Delaema and his co-conspirators -- calling themselves the 'Mujahideen from Fallujah' -- declared their intentions to kill Americans in Iraq using improvised explosive devices (IEDs). As part of the conspiracy, al-Delaema and his co-conspirators discussed and demonstrated, on video, the way in which the IEDs they had buried in a road near Fallujah would be detonated and would destroy American vehicles driving on the road and kill the American occupants of those vehicles. According to the factual proffer that he agreed to, al-Delaema not only created “how-to” and recruitment videos, but also filmed the effects of roadside attacks in Iraq. Furthermore, after his return to the Netherlands, al-Delaema continued to attempt to obtain propaganda videos for those seeking to kill Americans in Iraq, frequently attempting to obtain raw footage of attacks on Americans in Iraq." Al-Delaema will be sent to the Netherlands, where a Dutch judge will make the final determination on his sentence.

• United States v. Saubhe Jassim Al-Dellemy and Mouyad Mahmoud Darwish (Agents for Iraqi Intelligence):

- Information (Added 12/24/08) In December 2008, Saube Jassim Al-Dellemy, an Iraqi national living in Maryland, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to act as an agent of Iraq. According to DOJ, Al-Dellemy, who became a lawful permanent resident of the United States in 2000, came to the United States as a student in the 1980s and had his education in the U.S. paid for by the Ba’ath Party. "In exchange, Al-Dellemy was expected to provide information to the government of Iraq of matters of interest to the government and the Iraqi Intelligence Service." Particularly notable is the fact that "throughout the conspiracy Al-Dellemy made a restaurant he operated in Maryland available as a meeting place for IIS officers and Iraqi government officials, and utilized his restaurant as a means to gather information pertaining to U.S. government agencies near the restaurant, such as the National Security Agency and Fort George G. Meade. Throughout the conspiracy, Al-Dellemy relied on fellow Ba’ath Party members and/or sympathizers to provide him with information about the Iraqi opposition in the United States, including members of the Iraqi community in Detroit, Michigan. Al-Dellemy also gathered information in Maryland regarding U.S. military training and travel concerning U.S. actions in Iraq."

- Plea Agreement (Added 12/24/08)

- DOJ Press Release on Guity Plea (Added 12/24/08)

- Complaint (Added 12/31/08) In December 2008, Mouyad Mahmoud Darwish, a Canadian citizen born in Iraq who had resided in Maryland, was arrested for working with the Iraqi Intelligence Service (IIS). According to DOJ, "Darwish received payments from the IIS and the Iraqi government as compensation for his assistance and information." He is an alleged co-conspirator of Saube Jassim Al-Dellemy, who pled guilty to conspiracy to act as an agent of Iraq in December 2008.

- DOJ Press Release on Complaint (Added 12/31/08)

• United States v. Ahmed Muhammed Dhakane (False Statements Concerning Participation in Terrorist Organizations):

- Indictment (Added 3/10/10) A Texas grand jury indicted 24-year-old Ahmed Muhammed Dhakane, a citizen of Somalia, on two counts of making false statements to federal authorities concerning his association with al-Barakat and Al-Ittihad Al-Islami (AIAI). According to DOJ, Dhakane also "allegedly claimed to authorities that he and his wife traveled from Somalia to Mexico via Russia, Cuba, Costa Rica, and Guatemala. While in Mexico, they traveled by bus to the United States/Mexico border, where they were smuggled illegally into the United States. The indictment alleges that defendant failed to disclose to authorities that from June 2006 until March 2008, he resided in Brazil where he participated in, and later ran, a large-scale human smuggling enterprise knowing that such disclosure to authorities would prevent him from receiving asylum in the United States."

- DOJ Press Release on Indictment (Added 3/10/10)