More bogus checks found on suspect's computer, feds say

Associated Press | August 5, 2002 | Mary Sell

[The Energizer]

More bogus checks found on suspect's computer, feds say

By MARY SELL=

Associated Press Writer=

DETROIT (AP) Authorities discovered copies of additional fraudulent checks on a computer seized from the home of a man already charged with smuggling phony checks into the United States on a flight from Indonesia, Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Straus said Monday.

Agents last month searched the Dearborn home of Omar Shishani, who was arrested July 17 at Detroit Metropolitan Airport after authorities say he brought $12 million in bogus cashiers checks into the United States.

Shishani was indicted last month on charges of possession of counterfeit securities and smuggling merchandise into the United States. He was jailed without bond and faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

He is pleading innocent to the charges.

Shishani's attorney, Nabih Ayad, appealed a federal magistrate's order that his client be detained. But on Monday, U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds upheld the original ruling, saying the 47-year-old posed a danger to the community and is a flight risk.

Edmunds said she was concerned about Shishani's risk to the community and made references to phrases of the Quran Shishani was carrying when we was arrested. She said the phrases were ``overtly referential to the destruction of a population.''

The FBI is investigating whether Shishani has ties to terror organizations, but his name is not on the American terrorist watch list, law enforcement officials have said.

Straus told the court that a California man who gave Shishani the checks told him they were fake. He is not the man whose name appeared on some of the checks.

Ayad argued that his client was doing nothing wrong by carrying the checks, even if he knew they were phony.

``Nobody is being defrauded here,'' Ayad said.

But Edmunds didn't agree.

``There is certainly no reason to disregard traveling with $12 million in bogus checks,'' she said.

Edmunds said money used to support the Sept. 11 attacks was brought into the United States.

Straus has said that Shishani told investigators that he could provide them with information on terrorism.

According to Straus, when Shishani was asked about terrorism during an interview with federal agents he answered: ``If you want to know about terrorism, I can help you with that.''

Previously Ayad said his client never made such statements.

But on Monday he said that it was possible that Shishani ``knows someone who knows someone who knows someone'' about terrorist activity, but that does not mean the he is involved in the activity.

Ayad has said his client is a broker who was in Indonesia on business, but that the deal fell through.

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 emigrated to the United States in 1979, where he married. He became a U.S. citizen in 1989, his lawyer said.

From 1974-1976, Shishani served with the Jordan intelligence service, receiving instruction in spy craft and counter-surveillance techniques, court documents show.

Because of his extensive travels and connections around the world, Straus said Shishani is a flight risk.

``He has ties to every other community in the world,'' he said.

[The Energizer]

For you and your ping list.

[Free the USA]

Index Bump

[Shermy]

Ping to my Shishani list. If you want on or off, please freeemail me.

[Catspaw]

Okay, Shermy, let me get this straight: this perp was arrested for having these faux cashier's checks in his possession & was nabbed as he came in to Detriot from Indonesia. He then claims that these checks were in his possession because he got them from someone in California. He travelled from California to Detriot by way of Jakarta. And now the feds found more fake checks on his computer, which was seized from his home in Dearborn. These checks appeared on his computer as if by magic.

I just *can't* wait to see his lawyer spin this one.

[aShepard]

I just *can't* wait to see his lawyer spin this one.

"Calling Johnny Cockroach, please pick up the courtsey phone."

[BikerNYC]

More bogus checks found on suspect's computer, feds say

How can you find checks on a computer? It's like you found bogus dollar bills on someone's computer. I thought checks were made of paper.

[Shermy]

The lawyer first denied everything flat out -Shishani didn't say x, didn't do Y.

Except he conceded that Shishani met with a man who named his daughter "Al Qaeda".

Now he's backtracking...Why he does this is beyond me, breaks any iota of credibility he might have.

Link.

[Fred Mertz]

From 1974-1976, Shishani served with the Jordan intelligence service, receiving instruction in spy craft and counter-surveillance techniques, court documents show.

I apparently missed this interesting fact until now. I find it quite significant, especially since he wasn't on a watch list.

[Shermy]

Counterfeiting suspect held; carried ominous verses

Monday, August 5, 2002

BY JIM SCHAEFER, DETROIT FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER


A federal judge in Detroit refused an appeal Monday to release a Dearborn man under investigation by federal antiterrorism agents, ruling he is too risky to release because of religious verses he carried that called for the destruction of a population.

Omar Shishani, 47, will remain in jail until a November trial on charges of possessing counterfeit securities and smuggling merchandise into the United States on a flight from Indonesia. He was arrested July 17 at Metro Airport after a customs inspector discovered nine bogus cashier's checks totaling $12 million.

U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds, in ruling against Shishani's appeal of a magistrate's detention order, said hand-written verses from the Koran found on Shishani were troubling.

According to the FBI, one of the verses was translated from the Arabic as:

``When we decide to destroy a population, we (first) send a definite order to those among them who are given the good things of this life and yet transgress; so that the word is proved true against them: Then we destroy them utterly.''

``You don't carry something around just because it's extra weight,'' Edmunds said. ``It must be because it has some meaning to you.''

Shishani's attorney, Nabih Ayad, said the judge's ruling was unfair and similar ominous messages can be found in the Bible. He said if the messages refer to anything, they refer to Russia, which has been in conflict with Chechnya. Shishani, who was born in Jordan, is of Chechnyan descent.

Shishani is a legitimate international businessman, Ayad said.

``If this person's name were Bill or Bob, this person would already be out of jail,'' Ayad said outside court.

[hellinahandcart]

Shishani's attorney, Nabih Ayad, said the judge's ruling was unfair and similar ominous messages can be found in the Bible. He said if the messages refer to anything, they refer to Russia, which has been in conflict with Chechnya.

Well, okay then. It's just Russia that's been targeted for destruction. Let him go. < eye roll >

Shishani is a legitimate international businessman, Ayad said.

Who was found in possession of phoney cashier's checks for wads and wads of money. But he was just holding them for a friend...

``If this person's name were Bill or Bob, this person would already be out of jail,'' Ayad said outside court.

Bob Shishani of Jordan? I don't think so.

[blam]

I notice that they failed to mention the papers that were found that indicated he is worth almost $37 million. I wonder what his income tax returns all the way back to 1979 look like? HUH?

[SandfleaCSC]

Thanks for the ping Shermy.

What can I say? This guy fought with the bad guys in Checnya, was caught carrying forged checks, claims terrorist ties, and his name is Omar and he doesn't play middle infield for the Dodgers. Maybe if they'd caught him at the airport with half a joint in his luggage, we could be a little tougher on him.

[Alouette]

From 1974-1976, Shishani served with the Jordan intelligence service, receiving instruction in spy craft and counter-surveillance techniques, court documents show.

"Don' know nuthin' bout findin' no terr'rists, no siree!"