Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Citadel cadet accused of lying, having fake ID
The Post and Courier | November 7, 2001 | BRIAN HICKS

Posted on 11/07/2001 9:12:43 AM PST by lucy1

Federal prosecutors on Tuesday charged a Citadel cadet of Middle Eastern descent with lying to INS investigators and holding fake identification.

Yaser Khatib, 23, is being held without bond in the county jail at the request of the U.S. Attorney's office because, according to a memo filed along with the sealed complaint, he is considered a flight risk.

Acting U.S. Attorney for South Carolina Scott Schools said Tuesday evening that he's a risk because the Immigration and Naturalization Service has still not sorted out Khatib's citizen-ship status.

The charges against Khatib were filed Tuesday afternoon in the Charleston court of U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert Carr, where Khatib was taken for an initial appearance. There he was charged with "making a materially false statement to a federal agent," which means he is accused of lying about something that agents were specifically investigating.

"It is alleged that he made a false statement, but I am not aware of what the statement allegedly was," his attorney, Bob Haley, said Tuesday night. Haley said he had just received the case Tuesday.

Khatib also has been charged with possession of "false identification documentation," Schools said. A news release from the Justice Department says Khatib is also known as Ibrahim Zahid.

The government is saying little about its case against Khatib and has sealed all documents pertaining to the investigation, which includes five search warrants. Usually, when complaints are sealed, it is because investigators fear tipping their hand about an ongoing investigation.

The government has disclosed little information about any of the more than 1,000 similar INS detentions or arrests it has made in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on America.

Schools said federal agencies are just trying to be careful in their statements.

"We don't want to make more out of this than it is, or less," Schools said.

INS agents arrested Khatib on Oct. 31, shortly after interviewing him on The Citadel's campus. According to school officials, the agents showed up, asked for Khatib and spoke with him for about 20 minutes in Capers Hall.

After that, the senior cadet and president of the Muslim Students Association's executive committee was taken to the Charleston County Detention Center, where he has been held since. Last week, FBI spokesmen said the agency was not part of the case, but on Tuesday the U.S. Attorney's office said FBI agents were assisting in the investigation.

Last weekend, INS officials told The Post and Courier that Khatib was being held for "immigration violations" but would not comment further because, they said, the investigation was ongoing.

Maj. Gen. John Grinalds, president of The Citadel, last week urged cadets and the public not to jump to conclusions about "any group of students based on recent terrorist events."

Tuesday evening, Citadel spokeswoman Patricia McArver said all the college's papers and documents relating to Khatib have been subpoenaed, and "we're cooperating with that request."

Schools said the criminal charges against Khatib are separate from the INS violations for which he was originally arrested.

"Immigration officials have been unable to fully figure out what his status is - whether he's in the country illegally or not," Schools said.

Friends and other cadets have been shocked by Khatib's arrest. Most describe him as a quiet, peaceful, law-abiding guy and say they can't believe he's related to any serious crimes.

Khatib was interviewed for a story on terrorism in Oct. 28 editions of The Post and Courier. He told the newspaper he was a U.S. citizen and said: "If terrorists pit Americans against Americans, then that's success on their part. But if we're united and show them a united front, then they lose."

If convicted on the charges announced Tuesday, Khatib could face up to $250,000 in fines and five years in prison, Schools said. Khatib's preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 13, but Haley said he will try to get it moved up to this Friday.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS:

1 posted on 11/07/2001 9:12:43 AM PST by lucy1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: lucy1
This guy who got caught is just one of many here trying to learn what makes this country so great so they can turn it against us. Send him back!
2 posted on 11/07/2001 9:18:24 AM PST by ConservativeyetHotChick
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ConservativeyetHotChick
Send him back? Hell, if he's here illegally and making false statements to the FBI, string him up!
3 posted on 11/07/2001 9:21:00 AM PST by BlueLancer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: lucy1
aclu is on the way.
4 posted on 11/07/2001 9:21:30 AM PST by Rustynailww
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: lucy1
urged cadets and the public not to jump to conclusions about "any group of students based on recent terrorist events."

Group of students? I thought the Citadel had so few openings and so many qualified applicants that candidates were turned away in droves. How big is this unspecified "group" of students who managed to get placed?

5 posted on 11/07/2001 9:23:13 AM PST by Ratatoskr
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ConservativeyetHotChick
The fact that immigration officials cannot figure out his status is truly infuriating. Just because he was a quiet law-abiding student means diddly-squat. Weren't these terrorists told to just blend in and not bring attention to themselves? I hope the Feds are looking closely at the leaders of ALL Muslim student groups on ALL campuses.
6 posted on 11/07/2001 9:25:16 AM PST by surrey
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: lucy1
I suppose the firing squad is no longer a part of the new all-inclusive military.

ANY foreigner found with fake documents should be arrested, investigated, deported, and banned for life from entering the United States.

7 posted on 11/07/2001 9:26:33 AM PST by SocialMeltdown
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Ratatoskr
Since the pinko-liberal feminazis law suit against the Citadel, I guess they "feel"
obligated to let in any so-called minority who shows up at the door.
8 posted on 11/07/2001 9:29:09 AM PST by SwatTeam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: lucy1
"Immigration officials have been unable to fully figure out what his status is - whether he's in the country illegally or not," Schools said.

Where is Tom Ridge on this? If Khatib is not a citizen, deport him period! Who is in charge of the INS? How many unqualified Clinton appointees work for them? How could they not know if this 23 (?) year old Cadet is a citizen or not - how could the school not know? If he lied, he should be thrown out of school, what good does fining him do? Prison? Not on my tax dollar. Why does Khatib also known as Ibrahim Zahid have two names? The only thing about this that makes sense is that Maj. Gen. John Grinalds is trying not to get sued.

Lucy1, follow this up.

9 posted on 11/07/2001 9:29:46 AM PST by yoe
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: lucy1
Why did this come to light just now? Had it not been for the September 11 attacks, probably no one would have ever known about this student being here illegally. It's really sad that we had to take such a terrible "jolt" to get us to wake up. Sad is not the word...
10 posted on 11/07/2001 9:30:32 AM PST by lucy1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: yoe
Will do.
11 posted on 11/07/2001 9:33:19 AM PST by lucy1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: lucy1
president of the Muslim Students Association's executive committee

The CITADEL has a "Muslim Students Association"?

And it is big enough to have a damn "executive committee"?

Beyond belief.

12 posted on 11/07/2001 9:33:43 AM PST by NativeNewYorker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BlueLancer
I say 'send him back' because I don't want to pay for his sorry ass to sit in a US prison for years getting 3 square meals and cable TV. Send him back to the hell hole he came from! (or string him up, but I think that's illegal)
13 posted on 11/07/2001 9:36:52 AM PST by ConservativeyetHotChick
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: NativeNewYorker
The CITADEL has a "Muslim Students Association"? And it is big enough to have a damn "executive committee"? Beyond belief.

They meet in a phone booth off campus.

I believe the Citadel's honor system has been violated, which should at least get him kicked out of that venerable institution--at the very least. They're real big on the honor system there.

14 posted on 11/07/2001 9:39:00 AM PST by wimpycat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: lucy1
-------------THE ENEMY IS WITHIN-----------and are we going to face up to that? Me thinks NO. Immigration, student visas, etc. will continue & we will stop after Afganistan. It's all about oil.
15 posted on 11/07/2001 9:47:29 AM PST by Digger
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BlueLancer
Send him back? Hell, if he's here illegally and making false statements to the FBI, string him up!

When/if we get serious before it is too late we will need "alien and sedition" type laws that will provide for the summary execution of anyone of mid-east descent or any mohammedan who is suspected of being a sleeper, mole or spy. That is the way it is done in war, particularly when war is being fought on your own soil.

My guess is that the islams will lay low as possible, this will blow over, and the ragheads can return to their next projects of terror here in the USA.

16 posted on 11/07/2001 9:51:46 AM PST by gg188
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: lucy1
Citadel Chief says Cadet expected back.

>

In light of the bigged information, who is guilty? A year long investigation and deficiencies weren't found! Well hidden or incompetently sought.


News

Citadel Chief says Cadet expected back

Sunday, November 4, 2001

BY BRIAN HICKS
Of The Post and Courier Staff

     Word of a Muslim cadet's arrest on immigration charges trickled across a mostly deserted Citadel campus Saturday as officials at the military college said they expected the cadet back in class once the matter is cleared up.
     Maj. Gen. John Grinalds, president of The Citadel, said that he is concerned about the cadet being in jail and Saturday asked the student body and the public not to jump to any conclusions because he is of Middle Eastern descent.
     "I want to urge everyone not to speculate about this," Grinalds said, referring to attitudes toward Muslims since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11. "I know the student and my impression of him has always been positive. I was concerned when I heard about this. He's one of our cadets, so he's one of my sons and daughters. At this point, this doesn't have any effect on his status at The Citadel."
     The Citadel will not release the cadet's name, but The Post and Courier learned Friday that Yaser Khatib, a senior at the college, was being held at the Charleston County Detention Center for the Immigration and Naturalization Services.
     An INS official in Washington on Saturday confirmed that Khatib, 23, is "under investigation for immigration violations," but would not say what those were.
     The INS spokesman said the agency does not comment on ongoing cases. A spokesman for the FBI says it has no part in this investigation.
     Grinalds said INS agents showed up on The Citadel's campus on Wednesday - Halloween - around 1:30 p.m. and told officials they were looking for a cadet. After school officials found him, agents talked privately with the cadet in a room in Capers Hall.
     After about 20 minutes, Citadel officials said, the agents escorted the cadet out and said he was under arrest. INS investigators were back on campus Friday with a warrant, and searched the cadet's room. Grinalds said he doesn't know what - if anything - the investigators took.
     As of Saturday evening, Khatib still was being housed at the county jail, which holds local suspects for the INS.
     With the entire Corps of Cadets enjoying one of the few open weekends when they can leave campus at will, there were few students around to talk about the events of the week. Most of those hanging around Saturday said they did not know Khatib.
     Matthew Green, a junior in Band Company, said Khatib stayed in the same building as him - the trailers serving as Band Barracks - because Khatib's barracks in the 4th battalion were full. Green said he didn't know the senior and hadn't heard much about the incident.
     Grinalds did confirm that the cadet who has been arrested is one of 12 students out of a student body of 1,908 who signed a form prohibiting The Citadel from releasing any information about him - including his name. Normally, a college is allowed to give out name, local address, major and expected year of graduation.
     School officials would say only this much: He is one of 59 international students - and only 11 Muslims - currently enrolled in The Citadel. According to the website of the college's Muslim Students Association, Yaser Khatib is the president of its executive committee.
     Khatib spoke with a Post and Courier reporter less than two weeks ago, and said he was concerned about his religion being associated with terrorism.
International students go through a yearlong process for admission that includes proving their immigration papers are in order. The school had detected no problem, Grinalds said. Also, the college knows of no other students under investigation.
     Whatever the reason for this is, it is INS generated. The Citadel is cooperating with the investigation, which thus far has included only handing over the cadet's paperwork.
     Similar incidents have occurred on 144 college campuses across the country in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks on America, but Citadel officials said they knew of none that had turned up anything.
     Grinalds says he has spoken to the cadet's mother twice by phone since the arrest, but said he didn't think anyone from the school had talked to him.
     No one has any idea how long it will take INS to finish its investigation, and Grinalds said that he can only hope for a "satisfactory outcome" for everyone. Unless events "go South," Grinalds said he expects the cadet back to campus.
     "He'll be right back here - we miss him," Grinalds said.
     Contact Brian Hicks at (843) 937-5561 or bhicks@postandcourier.com.


    




Click here to send feedback.


Copyright © 2001 Charleston.Net. All Rights Reserved.

In light of the bigged information, who is guilty? A year long investigation and deficiencies weren't found! Well hidden or incompetently sought.

17 posted on 11/07/2001 11:05:07 AM PST by dhuffman@awod.com
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: lucy1
Strip him naked
Tie him down on an anthill
Cover him with honey
Take pictures for his family, as a warning...
18 posted on 11/07/2001 2:49:51 PM PST by RaceBannon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RaceBannon
Ouch!That hurts just thinking about it!
19 posted on 11/08/2001 8:42:25 AM PST by lucy1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: wimpycat

Hilarious... and an accurate description!


20 posted on 01/23/2006 4:40:07 PM PST by CitadelArmyJag ("Tolerance is the virtue of the man with no convictions" G. K. Chesterton)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson