So that people won't say mean things about Republicans.
Posted on 07/24/2002 12:04:54 PM PDT by The Energizer
Government: Man indicted on phony check charge says he could provide terrorism information
The government is investigating whether Shishani has ties to terrorist organizations, but his name is not on the terrorist watch list created by U.S. intelligence agencies.
Two of the checks found were for $5 million each; two were for $500,000 each; and five were for $200,000 each, an affidavit said. The checks, labeled ``cashier check,'' were purportedly issued by the Pomona, Calif., branch of West America Bank.
Shishani's brother, Ali, said Wednesday that he had little information on the checks found in his brother's possession other than they were given to his brother in Indonesia, to which Omar Shishani often travels on business trips.
``My brother didn't break any laws,'' Ali Shishani said from Amman, Jordan. ``The checks were in his pocket, but he didn't use them or try to cash them.''
A fraud investigator for the bank said there was no Pomona branch and the checks were labeled incorrectly, Special Agent Clarence T. Laster of the U.S. Secret Service said in the affidavit. The bank's authentic checks are labeled ``official check.''
Several people have been arrested in the Las Vegas area for passing similar checks, Laster said.
Authorities have searched Shishani's home, but the results of the search were sealed.
Family members in Jordan say they have not been in touch with the Shishani or his lawyer, but have spoken with seven other brothers in the United States.
Ahmad Shishani, another of Shishani's brothers in Jordan, said Omar Shishani has ``absolutely no links at all with any terrorist group or al-Qaida'' and that his brother is simply a wealthy computer salesman who travels often.
Omar Shishani was born to a middle-class family in the minority Chechen community in Zarqa, 17 miles northeast of the capital, Amman. He immigrated to the United States 20 years ago, where he married an alien resident of Japanese origin. He holds both the Jordanian and American passports.
The maximum penalty for the possession of counterfeit securities charge is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine; for smuggling of merchandise the maximum penalty is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
So that people won't say mean things about Republicans.
$12 Million will buy a lot of stuff.
We need to see what we can find out on this bank.....and who he met overseas...
I just assumed he must be a stockbroker! ;-)
OH, OK. That's that. Sorry, our mistake. You can go home now.
In this case, since the check was written on a branch that didn't exist, red flags would have gone up immediately. I would like to think that our terrorist enemies were that stupid and unsophisticated, but I doubt that is so. There is something funny about this whole story.
Mich. Suspect May Have al-Qaida Info
By ALEXANDRA R. MOSES=
Associated Press Writer=
DETROIT (AP) An Arab-American charged with smuggling $12 million in bogus cashiers checks into the United States told agents that the man named on the checks may belong to al-Qaida, authorities said Wednesday.
Omar Shishani, 47, also told investigators that he can provide them with information on terrorism, Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Straus said during a hearing.
Defense attorney Nabih Ayad said his client never made such statements and family members in Jordan said Shishani was simply a wealthy computer salesman.
Shishani was arrested last week after arriving at Detroit Metropolitan Airport on a flight from Indonesia. He was jailed without bond Wednesday after pleading innocent to possession of counterfeit securities and smuggling merchandise into the United States. He faces up to 15 years in prison.
Shishani was asked about terrorism during an interview with federal agents. According to Straus, he answered: ``If you want to know about terrorism, I can help you with that.''
Authorities say they found nine phony cashiers checks during a search of Shishani's bags. Six were dated June 10, 2002, and made payable to ``Baharuddin Masse,'' according to the indictment. The other checks were dated Sept. 3, Sept. 5 and Sept. 6, 2002.
Shishani told agents he believes Masse may belong to al-Qaida, has made pro-al-Qaida statements and named his daughter al-Qaida, Straus said. The suspect's attorney said he only said the part about the girl.
Two of the checks were for $5 million each; two were for $500,000 each; and five were for $200,000 each, the affidavit said. The checks, labeled ``cashier check,'' were purportedly issued by the Pomona, Calif., branch of West America Bank.
There is no Pomona branch and the checks were labeled incorrectly, Secret Service agent Clarence T. Laster said in the affidavit. Several people have been arrested in the Las Vegas area for passing similar checks, Laster said.
Authorities have searched Shishani's home in nearby Dearborn, but the results of the search were sealed.
Shishani was born in Jordan. He emigrated to the United States 20 years ago, where he married. He holds both the Jordanian and American passports, and his lawyer described him as a broker.
Shishani's brother, Ali, said he had little information on the checks other than they were given to his brother in Indonesia, to which Omar Shishani often travels on business.
``My brother didn't break any laws,'' Ali Shishani said from Amman, Jordan. ``The checks were in his pocket, but he didn't use them or try to cash them.''
Ahmad Shishani, another of Shishani's brothers in Jordan, said Omar Shishani has ``absolutely no links at all with any terrorist group or al-Qaida'' and that his brother is a wealthy computer salesman who travels often.
The press still refuses to admit that Daniel Pipes was generally correct in his conclusions about Islamists in this country. You can only conclude that the left leaning press actually wants another 9/11. Why -- I don't know. Perhaps they see themselves and like minded politicians picking up the pieces?
1)Decoy gets caught with a number of phoney checks written for HUGE amounts.
2)Feds and press make big deal of the bust.
3)Meanwhile, a peace loving member of Islam gets thru customs with nary a notice with checks written in smaller denominations or something else which aids their Jihad.
Hopefully the Feds are looking at the manifest to see who else was on that flight but, it's probably too late for any action by now. Another possible win for the bad guys.
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