Threat Matrix: Daily Terror Threat

Hello neighbor. I didn't have a ringside seat to the tanker explosion, but I could see the smoke from my house in SW Arlington. I drive 360 M-F on my way to Dallas and feared that the hwy would need repairs. I assume it's in fine shape since I haven't heard to the contrary.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(202) 514-2007 | TDD (202) 514-1888
WWW.USDOJ.GOV

FRIDAY, JULY 30, 2004
U.S. ANNOUNCES PLEA IN TERRORISM FINANCING CASE
U.S. Citizen Agrees to Plead Guilty to Criminal Violations Including Violating Anti-Terrorism Sanctions Law

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Attorney General John Ashcroft, Assistant Attorney General Christopher Wray of the Justice Department's Criminal Division, Assistant Attorney General Eileen J. O'Connor of the Justice Department's Tax Division, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Paul McNulty, FBI Counterterrorism Division Assistant Director Gary Bald, Department of Homeland
Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement Assistant Secretary Michael J. Garcia, and IRS Commissioner Mark Everson announced today that Abdurahman M. Alamoudi, a naturalized U.S. citizen, has agreed to plead guilty to three criminal violations relating to his activities in the United States and abroad with nations and organizations that have ties to terrorism and his participation in a plot to assassinate an ally in the war against terror.

Alamoudi pleaded guilty this morning in a hearing before District Judge Claude M. Hilton in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia. Alamoudi pleaded guilty to three felony 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.

Alamoudi faces a maximum sentence of 23 years in prison, seven years of supervised release, $750,000 in fines, and revocation of his citizenship. Under the terms of the plea agreement unsealed and entered today, Alamoudi agreed that he should be sentenced under the terrorism provision of the federal sentencing guidelines. He also is required to forfeit all proceeds from his illegal dealings with Libya, which total at least $910,000, including $340,000 seized from him in the United Kingdom. Under the plea agreement, Alamoudi is also required to cooperate fully and truthfully in any and all investigations. His sentencing hearing was scheduled for October 15, 2004.

"Law enforcement officers here and abroad are working every day to remove the active threat posed by terrorists who have sworn to hit America. A critical tool in protecting the lives and liberties of our citizens is tracking terrorism funding and choking off the supply lines of blood money that makes terrorism possible," said Attorney General John Ashcroft. "In this case as in others, through the criminal justice system and the leverage of tough terrorism sentencing guidelines, America has gained the cooperation of an individual who can provide critical intelligence in our war against terrorism, particularly regarding terrorism-financing."

"This conviction is a milestone in the war on terrorism. Alamoudi was a major player in the financial support of terrorism," said U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia PaulMcNulty.

"Mr. Alamoundi's decision to cooperate with the government will help us gain additional insight into terrorist activities. We have this piece of the puzzle because of the cooperative efforts of multiple agencies, and we will continue working together systematically and methodically to undermine terrorists' financial and logistical support," said FBI Counterterrorism Division Assistant Director Gary Bald.

"Alamoudi pleaded guilty to immigration fraud and engaging in illegal transactions with Libya, both crimes within ICE's traditional law enforcement authority. This case clearly shows how those powerful tools are being effectively used to address threats to our homeland security," said Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement Assistant Secretary Michael J. Garcia.

"We will vigorously pursue all violations of the law, including lying to the IRS, in going after terrorism," said Internal Revenue Service Commissioner Mark W. Everson.

In 1996, Alamoudi, who was born in Eritrea, became a naturalized U.S. citizen. He is the founder and former executive director of the American Muslim Council (AMC), the founder of the American Muslim Foundation (AMF), and was an influential member of other Islamic political and charitable organizations. Alamoudi also has ties to the Islamic Call Society, which has connections to the Libyan government.

The Statement of Facts agreed to as part of the plea agreement describes how, from November 1995 to September 2003, Alamoudi devised a scheme to obtain money from Libya and other sources
overseas for transmission into the United States without attracting the attention of federal immigration, customs, and law enforcement officials. The purpose of this scheme was to hide the amount of money he controlled, how and where he obtained it, and what he did with it. The Statement of Facts describes a comprehensive scheme to conceal, including: engaging in prohibited financial transactions related to Libya; making false statements to immigration officials about his overseas travel; making false statements to customs officials denying travel to Libya; misusing his United States passport to travel to Libya; obtaining visas for travel to Libya from the Libyan Embassy; travel to Libya on different passports those presented to customs officials upon his return from Libya; attempting to structure the importation of cash received from Libyan sources overseas and to structure transactions with domestic financial institution to evade currency reporting requirements; and concealing foreign bank accounts.

Beginning in 2000, Alamoudi made frequent trips to Libya via Great Britain, Switzerland, and Saudi Arabia, using both his United States and Yemeni passport. Until earlier this year, U.S. citizens were barred, unless licensed or otherwise authorized, from traveling to or engaging in financial transactions with Libya. Although he admits that he knew of these restrictions, Alamoudi never attempted to comply with the requirements.

Alamoudi made at least ten trips to Libya, many lasting as long as five days. According to the Statement of Facts, 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 disruption in Saudi Arabia. As the scheme continued, however, Alamoudi learned that the actual objective of the scheme 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.

On August 16, 2003, British Customs officials at Heathrow International Airport stopped Alamoudi, after he was discovered attempting to leave the country with $340,000 in United States currency. The money was seized, however Alamoudi was allowed to continue his travels, including stops in Syria, Egypt, and Libya.

Alamoudi received other funds from the Libyan government officials. Some of this money was placed in overseas accounts controlled by Alamoudi. At no time did Alamoudi file a report of a financial account in foreign countries, as required under U.S. law.

On September 28, 2003, Alamoudi arrived at Washington Dulles International Airport. In responding to a question from an officer of the United States Customs, who asked him to identify the countries on his itinerary, Alamoudi intentionally withheld information about his Libya travel. At that time, federal law enforcement officials took Alamoudi into custody, and he has remained in custody since that time. The current charges are based on a superseding indictment returned in the Eastern District of Virginia in March 2004.

Alamoudi began cooperating after his detention, and his plea agreement requires him to continue cooperating fully and truthfully in the ongoing investigation of the assassination plot and in any and all other investigations.

This case is being investigated by agents of the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Departmnt of Homeland Security, the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigations, and the Washington Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Gordon D. Kromberg and Special Assistant United States Attorney Steven P. Ward, on detail from the Tax Division of the United States Department of Justice, are prosecuting the
case for the United States.

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04-524

FBI Home Page
2004 Press Releases

http://www.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel04/alamoudi073004.htm

PLEA agreement:
http://www.justice.gov/usao/vae/ArchivePress/JulyPDFArchive/04/alamoudi073004.pdf

Oh my gosh - you have really been through a lot lady. Take it easy and NOW is the time for that beer (picturing how traumatizing that had to have been for you!) Hope you heal quickly and get rid of those shoes for ones a little more stable.

What angered me to no end was seeing CNN have Dean on saying he questions the timing of this release blah-blah

Hey, buddy it goes both ways, how do we know if you dims are not behind this to close down the RNC convention?!

Thank you Mom and you are contributing alot yourself!

Holy sh** Indie! Glad you are OK.

You know what I don't understand: I saw part of Ridge's news conference and he said these buildings weren't specific targets; if they're not specific targets, then why did he single them out?

Police investigate missing bags of ammonium nitrate (North Carolina 7/9/04)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1168901/posts

Thank you for that contribution RW and welcome to TM

You know what Tilly, your right, they may not seem like rocket scientists but their plans to disrupt our financial institutions and cripple us are still being felt today from 911, they hate our freedom

LOL.

I get the "let's humor her" look as well.

What's worse is the "rolling of eyeballs".

But, I did have several friends and family members call me today to find out the "real skinny" on the Threat Level rise. I am their "go to" person for all things terror-related.

Somedays, I really wish I could tell them "see, I told you so", but I pray that day never comes.

I've read from your previous posts that you live in Missouri. Is that correct? I graduated from high school in Neosho. Many years ago. Still have family and friends there and in Joplin.

OMG you are the second near death I've heard personally in the past 24 H, you are meant to be here! Praying for your wounds to heal!

That had to scare you SHless! I know being a TM'r I would've phreaked!

Boy, you got some great pictures under some scary conditions. Glad you're OK!

Thanks for that link Jim!

What worries me is the congestion around these targets and all that glass, but I betchya the security will completely stymie these attacks...but plan B always scares me

I still wonder why the ME"s targeted OKC?

Nascar

The most American event and it is NASCAR for Bush

I save every prayer you post, thank you so much!

"Spare them, Merciful Father, from the sight of spilled blood upon our shores "
~Amen

I am on heightened alert today

As must we all be, I just filled out four reports on that caddy ME guy

But you will be the go to person when news as today has broken

Here's another article demytifying Michael Moore's artistic license for the propaganda he sold as a film to the people eager to believe anything but the truth:

Saudi Royal Family Blasts Michael Moore