Posted on 08/15/2006 10:21:56 AM PDT by Arec Barrwin
Local probe may have federal link
By Brad Bauer, bbauer@mariettatimes.com
Airport security information and airline manifests were among the items seized from two Michigan men arrested Tuesday in Marietta, now being held on felony terrorism charges.
Federal authorities were working Wednesday evening to determine the significance of the documents.
“We also found instructions detailing how to access certain airline databases,” said Washington County Sheriff Larry Mincks. “We passed all that information along to the FBI, and they’re reviewing it as we speak.”
Although the findings have caused authorities some concern, the documents do not relate to terrorism charges filed Wednesday in Marietta Municipal Court against Osama Sabhi Abulhassan, 20, and Ali Houssaiky, 20, both of Dearborn, Mich. Those charges surround the purchase of TracFones the men were said to be buying in bulk across the mid-Atlantic states.
Authorities say terrorist groups are illegally modifying the pre-paid cell phones to place untraceable international calls. Microchips in some of the phones are being shipped overseas for the production of roadside bombs.
The men were arrested Tuesday after purchasing several phones at a Marietta business. Police said employees at the store called and reported being concerned by the suspicious purchase and the demeanor of the men. Officers responded and stopped Abulhassan and Houssaiky after observing a minor traffic violation, according to court records.
A search of their vehicle led to the discovery of several phones and more than $11,000 in cash.
Mincks said the men first told police the phones were for a family construction business. He said Abulhassan and Houssaiky later admitted they were taking the microchips from the phones and selling them to an individual in Dearborn. That individual, whose name was not released, is the target of an ongoing FBI terrorist investigation, Mincks said.
Dearborn is a known location of several terrorist cells and most recently has been the site of rallies in support of the Islamic terrorist group, Hezbollah.
A Dearborn police sergeant said he was not aware of any reports or investigations surrounding TracFones.
According to court records, this is the first time the men have been charged with a serious crime.
Mincks said Abulhassan and Houssaiky admitted to buying more than 600 of the phones in Ohio over the past few weeks.
In their vehicle were maps detailing the location of stores where the phones can be purchased from Michigan, through Ohio and as far south as the Carolinas.
Each phone costs about $20.
“We know these cell phone chips are being used as a means for detonating roadside bombs and that people from Dearborn, Mich., are coming to this area to buy them,” Mincks said. “They’ve bought between 600 and 1,000 of these phones and they’ve giving phony names, had people poised as lookouts at businesses when they were buying them, and were evasive and lied when they were questioned about it by our officers. I think we can say for certain that something isn’t exactly right.”
Abulhassan and Houssaiky are being held in the Washington County Jail on $200,000 bond, each charged with fourth-degree felony money laundering in support of terrorism. A bond hearing and arraignment is scheduled for 1 p.m. today in Marietta Municipal Court.
Each man faces up to 18 months in jail and $5,000 in fines, if convicted.
During an initial court appearance Wednesday, Abulhassan was made aware of the terrorism charges. Initially, the men were only being held on misdemeanor charges of obstructing official business. Those charges were dismissed when the felonies were filed.
“I was told I was being held on obstruction,” Abulhassan said. “Is there a bond?”
Houssaiky had already been served with the new charges by the time he appeared. He briefly answered questions about his legal residence and education, and did not question the new charges.
The men have been held separately since their 2 p.m. Tuesday arrest.
Both men claimed to be life-long residents of Michigan and said they are enrolled in college. Abulhassan said he is a junior at the University of Michigan and Houssaiky claimed to be a student at Wayne State University.
Assistant Washington County Prosecutor Susan Vessels called the men flight risks and asked Dyar-Welch to set a high bond.
“These men are linked to terrorist activity and are an extreme flight risk,” Vessels argued. “I would ask bond be set at $1 million. Ideally, the state would prefer no bond be issued.”
Vessels declined to elaborate further on her terror allegations, saying her case is still in its infancy.
Marietta Municipal Court Judge Janet Dyar-Welch said she would revisit bond at today’s hearing and that she expected more evidence from the state in order to keep a higher bond set in the case.
Abulhassan and Houssaiky each requested the court-appointed public defenders.
“We know these cell phone chips are being used as a means for detonating roadside bombs and that people from Dearborn, Mich., are coming to this area to buy them,” Mincks said. “They’ve bought between 600 and 1,000 of these phones and they’ve giving phony names, had people poised as lookouts at businesses when they were buying them, and were evasive and lied when they were questioned about it by our officers. I think we can say for certain that something isn’t exactly right.”
How can the FBI send out these press releases saying there is no known link to terrorism? There is no good reason whatsoever for 3 guys from Texas to be driving to Michigan to pay cash for untraceable cellphones. Period.
Because so many in this country have their had up their _$$ that the light of truth can never penetrate.
This is what I've been saying since the first story about cell phone purchases by Muslimes. I didn't think they were using them as detonators but for untraceable, anonymous communications. Use the phone and dump it. Very, very had to track, monitor, or anything. And I also stated that it was a gift from the treasonous New York Times who instructed domestic Muslime terrorists that their international calls were being monitored.
Someone needs to send the Times this article and comments, along with a thank you.
Traitors.
What they may be doing is making sure every terrorist has a cell phone and they'll make one call to some mass call system and they'll start their jihad in America like fireworks on a 4th of July evening. And, it was right under law enforcement's noses for months.
Then why separate the phones from the microchips? See:
Houssaiky later admitted they were taking the microchips from the phones and selling them to an individual in Dearborn.
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