Posted on 08/15/2006 11:05:20 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
MARIETTA, Ohio - Prosecutors dropped the terrorism charges against two men arrested after buying large numbers of cell phones, saying Tuesday that they couldn't prove a terrorism link.
The dismissal, in a one-page court document, came the day after Washington County Prosecutor James Schneider said he didn't have enough evidence to present the felony charges to a grand jury.
Ali Houssaiky and Osama Sabhi Abulhassan, both of Dearborn, Mich., left prison after paying a reduced bond on their remaining misdemeanor counts of falsification.
"We know it was just a matter of time. We were just hoping it wouldn't be forever," Abulhassan said. "Everybody knew we were innocent. We knew we were innocent."
The falsification counts stem from allegations that the men gave police false information about why they bought the phones.
Federal authorities told local law enforcement last winter to be on the lookout for people buying large numbers of prepaid cell phones.
In addition to the arrests in Ohio, three Texas men were charged in Michigan this month after nearly 1,000 cell phones were found in a van they were driving.
In the Michigan case, the FBI said Monday that it had no indication that the men had any ties to know terrorist groups. Local prosecutors, however, were standing by the charges. They have not said what they believe the men intended to do with the phones, though officials have said the phones can be used as detonators and the Coast Guard increased its patrols of the 5-mile-long Mackinac Bridge.
Supporters of the arrested men have said their only purpose was to make money by reselling the phones and that they were targeted because of their Arab backgrounds.
Come now ffnj, they're just taking the pictures Americans won't take. And, more importantly keeping our economy going with all these big purchases! Flight info for their next vacation of course where they intend to take pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge or the Sears Tower.... /sarc
"Then we're stupid and we'll die."
For what?
The same kind who knows that he can get a higher price, overseas.
Interrogation...
I have a better idea, never let them in this country to begin with.
Then my rights would be safe.
lets inject them with chips and track 'em (inject them while they are asleep of course)
I'm not a Muslim going around buying up thousands of untraceable cell phones for whatever sinister purpose. That's the big difference here and why the Feds probably won't pick this ol' Presbyterian up.
I wouldn't be surprised if that is exactly what will happen now. They may not have had enough information to make the charges stick, but that doesn't mean they won't be keeping an eye on them until they're sure they aren't linked to terrorism.
won't pick this ol' Presbyterian up.
Not the best thing to be right now.
You have more faith in the FBI than I do.
"What a load. Track them and see what they are up to."
Bet they head to a lawyers office - They are going to make a LOT more on the lawsuit(s).
"I suspect the market in reselling prepaid cell phones just took a tumble, anyhow."
Doubt it - there's a thread almost exactly like this from last November -
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1515879/posts
The FBI knows where they are going, but they have to look at each case brought up just to be sure.
As far as the "false information" BS, if you had a simple idea to make some money, would you blab it to any local yokel cop who decided to give you a hard time ?
The levels of paranoia exhibited by posters here is only equalled by the level of gullibility, in general.
Kinda of sad if this is the cream of the crop, isn't it?
--R.
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