NOTE The following text is a quote:
Two Brooklyn Men Plead Guilty in Manhattan Federal Court to Providing Material Support to al Qaeda
U.S. Attorney’s Office
June 18, 2012
Southern District of New York
Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that WESAM EL-HANAFI and SABIRHAN HASANOFF pled guilty in Manhattan federal court to providing material support—including financial support, equipment, and technical advice—to al Qaeda associates in Yemen and elsewhere, and to conspiring to provide material support to al Qaeda. EL-HANAFI pled guilty today before United States District Judge Kimba M. Wood, and HASANOFF pled guilty before Judge Wood on June 4, 2012.
They were transferred into United States custody following their arrests in the United Arab Emirates in 2010.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara stated: “The pleas of these two avowed supporters of al Qaeda is a chilling reminder of the threat of homegrown terrorists and the unwavering vigilance that must be exercised so they can be thwarted—as they were in this case. It is also a reminder of the commitment that we share with our law enforcement partners to identify, prosecute, and punish those who would do harm to the United States and its citizens.”
Beginning in 2007, EL-HANAFI and HASANOFF conspired with others to support and receive assignments from al Qaeda. In November 2007, HASANOFF received approximately $50,000 from a co-conspirator (“CC-1”), with the understanding that at least a portion of the money would be used to support the terrorist organization. In February 2008, EL-HANAFI traveled to Yemen, where he met with two members of al Qaeda. While in Yemen, EL-HANAFI swore an oath of allegiance to al Qaeda, received instructions from al Qaeda on operational security measures, and received assignments to perform for al Qaeda. Also while in Yemen, EL-HANAFI instructed the members of al Qaeda on how to communicate covertly over the Internet in a manner that would avoid law enforcement detection.
After EL-HANAFI returned from Yemen, HASANOFF also swore allegiance to al Qaeda. About three months later, in May 2008, EL-HANAFI met with CC-1 in Brooklyn to discuss CC-1 also joining al-Qaeda, and HASANOFF and EL-HANAFI subsequently had additional discussions with CC-1 about joining al Qaeda. During the same approximate time period, EL-HANAFI purchased a subscription for a software program that enabled him to communicate securely with others over the Internet.
EL-HANAFI and HASANOFF also helped finance the terror group, by regularly sending money to al Qaeda through international wire transfers and through couriers. EL-HANAFI and HASANOFF also were interested in fighting with al Qaeda in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other locations abroad, and they discussed traveling to engage in jihad, although they never succeeded in participating in armed conflict.
In June 2008, EL-HANAFI directed CC-1 to perform various tasks for al Qaeda. At that time, HASANOFF instructed CC-1 not to use his U.S. passport when traveling because a U.S. passport with fewer immigration stamps would be more valuable to al Qaeda.
Additionally, in August 2008, HASANOFF traveled to New York City where he performed assignments for al Qaeda. EL-HANAFI and HASANOFF continued discussions about seeking out more contacts with al Qaeda through 2009.
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EL-HANAFI, 37, is a U.S. citizen who was born and lived in Brooklyn, New York. HASANOFF, 36, is a dual citizen of the United States and Australia, who also resided in Brooklyn, New York.
EL-HANAFI and HASANOFF each face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. HASANOFF is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Wood on July 23, 2012. EL-HANAFI is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Wood on October 22, 2012.
Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI’s New York-based Joint Terrorism Task Force (“JTTF”)—which principally consists of special agents of the FBI and detectives of the New York City Police Department. He also thanked the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and Office of International Affairs, the Department of State, the Kansas City-based JTTF, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri for their extraordinary assistance in this matter.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys Brendan R. McGuire, John P. Cronan, Glen Kopp, Aimee Hector, and Michael Lockard and are in charge of the prosecution.
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http://www.kansascity.com/2012/06/18/3664515/kc-businessman-was-part-of-al.html
“Al-Qaida | Link is clarified
Kansas City businessman was part of al-Qaida terror cell, federal officials say”
BY MARK MORRIS
The Kansas City Star
June 18, 2012
SNIPPET: “A Kansas City businessman awaiting sentencing for providing support to al-Qaida was part of a small terror cell with two New York men, federal officials said Monday.
Beginning in late 2007, Khalid Ouazzani, 34, of Kansas City, contributed money to the terrorist organization through Sabirhan Hasanoff of Brooklyn. In June 2008, another man, Wesam El-Hanafi, accepted Ouazzani’s oath of allegiance to al-Qaida, according to federal court records in New York, where Ouazzani is identified only as “CC-1.”
El-Hanafi pleaded guilty to his role in the conspiracy Monday in federal court in New York. Hasanoff pleaded guilty earlier this month.
A spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office in Kansas City confirmed the link between the cases.”
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www.fbi.gov/newyork/press-releases/2013/brooklyn-man-sentenced-in-manhattan-federal-court-to-18-years-in-prison-for-providing-material-support-to-al-qaeda
Brooklyn Man Sentenced in Manhattan Federal Court to 18 Years in Prison for Providing Material Support to al Qaeda
U.S. Attorney’s Office
September 30, 2013
Southern District of New York
Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that Sabirhan Hasanoff was sentenced today in Manhattan federal court to 18 years in prison for providing and attempting to provide material support to al Qaeda associates in Yemen and elsewhere and for conspiring to provide material support to al Qaeda over the course of nearly three years. Hasanoff, who was arrested in the United Arab Emirates in 2010 and transferred to United States custody, pled guilty in June 2012 to one count of providing and attempting to provide material support and resources to al Qaeda and one count of conspiracy to provide material support and resources to al Qaeda. He pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Kimba M. Wood, who also imposed today’s sentence.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara stated, “Today’s sentence reflects the egregiousness of Sabirhan Hasanoff’s conduct. The defendant not only funneled equipment capable of being used for nefarious purposes and thousands of dollars to al Qaeda operatives abroad, he also travelled to U.S. soil to surveil a major New York landmark for a potential terrorist attack. We will not hesitate to continue, with our law enforcement partners, to pursue individuals engaged in similar behavior and do what we can to ensure they are brought to justice.”
According to various public filings and sworn statements made by the defendant during proceedings in Manhattan federal court:
From 2007 through late 2009, Hasanoff supported al Qaeda in a variety of ways. Hasanoff and his co-defendant, Wesam El-Hanafi, sent equipment, including remote-controlled devices capable of use in an explosives attack, to terrorist operatives abroad. In addition, Hasanoff and El-Hanafi together funneled approximately $67,000 to al Qaeda operatives overseas. Hasanoff and El-Hanafi collected some of this money from a third individual who resided in the United States. During this time, both defendants used aliases to disguise the source of their money when making cash donations to their terrorist contacts and made extensive plans for travel to engage in jihad in Somalia, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
In August 2008, Hasanoff entered the United States from abroad, travelled to New York City, and performed surveillance on the New York Stock Exchange—all on instructions from overseas terrorists who were considering the location for a possible attack. The information that Hasanoff gathered on the stock exchange was then sent to the terror operatives.
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In addition to his prison term, Hasanoff, 37, a dual citizen of the United States and Australia who resided in Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $200 special assessment fee and forfeiture in the amount of $70,000.
El-Hanafi pled guilty in June 2012 to one count of providing and attempting to provide material support and resources to al Qaeda, and one count of conspiracy to provide material support and resources to Al Qaeda. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York-based Joint Terrorism Task Force—which principally consists of special agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and detectives of the New York City Police Department. Mr. Bharara thanked the Department of Justice’s National Security Division and Office of International Affairs, the Kansas City-based JTTF, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri for their extraordinary assistance in this matter.
This case is being handled by the Office’s Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys John P. Cronan, Aimee Hector, Glen Kopp, Michael Lockard, and Brendan R. McGuire are in charge of the prosecution.