Charity chief indicted in terror case

MSNBC ^ | 10/9/02

[areafiftyone]

CHICAGO, Oct. 9 — The leader of a Chicago-area Islamic charity was indicted on racketeering charges Wednesday, and the government accused him of fraudulently obtaining donations to support Osama bin Laden’s network and other terrorist groups. Attorney General John Ashcroft said that, if found guilty, Enaam Arnaout faces up to 90 years in prison with no possibility of parole.

[William McKinley]

Byrd Says "Free Republic is Pretty. Pretty Pretty Pretty Pretty. But I want it to be a figment. A Fig Leaf! Fie on Free Republic! Fie on Conservatives!
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[Lil'freeper]

Pretty Pretty Pretty Pretty!

[Dog Gone]

Wed Oct 9, 2:37 PM ET

Federal officials on October 9, 2002 announced the indictment of Syrian-born Enaam Arnaout, the head of a U.S. Muslim charity, charging he used donations to fund terrorism around the world. Arnaout, shown in a photo released by the U.S. Attorney's office May 13, has been in custody since last April, and is charged with engaging in a 'multinational criminal enterprise that for a decade used charitable contributions of innocent Americans -- Muslims, non-Muslims and corporations alike -- to support al Qaeda' as well as turmoil in Chechnya (news - web sites) and 'armed violence in Bosnia,' the Justice Department (news - web sites) said. (U.S. Attorney's Office via Reuters)

[OldFriend]

Is Vernon Jordan his attorney?

[kinghorse]

The Feds must have confused him with being a Shriner. Ok with that gun, maybe a member of the militant "we ain't gonna ride those dopey minibikes" sect of the Shriners.

[Howlin]

LOL!

[blam]

Head of U.S. Muslim Charity Indicted

Wed Oct 9, 2:26 PM ET

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Federal officials on Wednesday announced the indictment of the head of a U.S. Muslim charity, charging he used donations to fund terrorism around the world.

Syrian-born Enaam Arnaout, who has been in custody since last April, engaged in a "multinational criminal enterprise that for a decade used charitable contributions of innocent Americans -- Muslims, non-Muslims and corporations alike -- to support al Qaeda" as well as turmoil in Chechnya and "armed violence in Bosnia," the Justice Department said.

The indictment, announced by Attorney General John Ashcroft at a Chicago news conference, largely repeated charges made against Arnaout in documents released at the time of his arrest earlier this year.

He had previously been charged only with lying in a court document his foundation filed challenging the seizure of its assets in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.

At the time, the foundation said it was a "faith-based humanitarian organization that engages in charitable work around the world" and "does not engage in or fund terrorist activity."

At the time of his arrest the Justice Department and the FBI said the foundation, based in the Chicago area, was "engaged in the support of various persons and groups involved in military and terrorist type activity," including al Qaeda, the Osama bin Laden group blamed for the attacks on New York and Washington.

Wednesday's seven-count indictment alleges he engaged in racketeering and other illegal activities to fraudulently obtain charitable donations.

(Get these scumbag pig faced SOB's out of my country!!!)

[Thebaddog]

This knucklehead comes from the same neck of the woods as those medical school students who got picked up in Florida a while ago. Betcha they prayed to mecca together sometime together.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

[Attorney General John Ashcroft said that, if found guilty, Enaam Arnaout faces up to 90 years in prison with no possibility of parole.]

We need a new federal law right now. Aiding and abeting THIS enemy at this time of war should be punnishable by death. No exceptions. After ONE appeal -- to be conducted within two weeks -- these vermin should be hung in public by the entrails of a freshly slaughtered pig.

[areafiftyone]

Either death or put in jail with regular american inmates. This guy would be wishing he was dead in a minute. I hear our prisoners would be all too happy to get their hands on someone who aids and abets the terrorist.

[Lil'freeper]

FoxNews ran that clip of Byrd not too long ago. It was hilarious. He was talking to the air and flapping his hands saying "Pretty pretty pretty pretty pretty pretty...." Wish I had the entire text- it's priceless.

[anymouse]

ping.

[browardchad]

ASHCROFT SAID that “incriminating documents” found in the charity’s Bosnia office include notes from the first meeting to organize the al-Qaida network, an oath of allegiance to al-Qaida and a list of wealthy al-Qaida sponsors in Saudi Arabia. Other documents tie Arnaout to shipments of weapons, including rockets and mortars, Ashcroft said.

Most interesting.

[Betty Jane]

Does anyone have the name of the charitable organization?

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the heads up!

[STD]

Now they need to indict the Global Relief foundation and Mr. Haddad for similar crimes.

[Grampa Dave]

They purposedly hide the name of the charity well into the article. Here it is and a little more:

Arnaout, head of Benevolence International Foundation, was charged with one count each of racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, conspiracy to launder money, money laundering and wire fraud. He also was charged with two counts of mail fraud.

According to the indictment, Benevolence International and Arnaout engaged in a pattern of racketeering. The objective was to support Islamic warriors around the world by raising funds.

The organizations involved were al-Qaida and Hezb e Islami, a militant group run by an Afghan warlord.

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for the photo and write up on this Benevolent Islamakazi funder.

[Betty Jane]

Thanks Grampa. I thought I reached the end of the article where it said he could receive up to 90 years. I guess I should have kept scrolling. Now, I'll do a search of the "charity" and see if they gave any political donations.