Justice Department Raids Local Charity (Syracuse NY )

WSTM ^ | 2/26/03

[L`enn]

Action News has confirmed that the U.S. Justice Department has raided a Syracuse-area charity called "Help The Needy." 3 men have been arrested in Syracuse; 4 in all are indicted on charges of illegally transfering money to Iraq. That is illegal under sanctions placed on Iraq after the Gulf War.

The IRS, INS, FBI and Customs Department have all been involved in this investigation for more than one year.

[Sacajaweau]

bump...looks like a possible tie to Iraq & Al queda??

[L`enn]

Kinda looks that way. Syracuse proper ain't that big of a town (120k city but 1000k metro). Not many Middle-Easterners, like typical smaller rust belt cities they run all the grocery stores and smoke shops in the ghetto.

Follow-up on the TV interviewed Catholic Charities of Onondaga County head and he said he has never heard of this group, and that if anyone should have it would have been him.

[Sacajaweau]

Maybe the connection is to Canada, a straight run on 81.

[Calamari]

Yes, it is only 2 to 2.5 hours to Canada on 81. We like to spend the summers around Redwood north of Watertown and have made the drive up 81 many times. The border would be easy to cross by taking a boat across the St. Lawrence river. This would avoid customs check points. The river is teeming with pleasure boats all summer.You can't check them all.

[CyberAnt]

I beg to differ - we are at CODE: ORANGE

Recently, there have been a couple of very good stops made at the Canadian border.

[Sacajaweau]

I plugged in "Help the Needy" and found Muslim sites connected to Afghanistan & Pakistan.

Interesting!!!

I'm sure there are many groups with the title but the Justice Dept. has a year long trail and the scoop on this particular group.

One year is about the same time they tracked the Buffalo 6 cell before they picked them up.

[bc2]

Rochester BUMP

[Sacajaweau]

My son went to SU 10 years back.

SU would be a good cover for radicals and we KNOW how on the ball the INS is about these visas.

[nicmarlo]

I just heard this on the radio....I work right here in Syracuse.......

[Sacajaweau]

Damn, my son went to SU...20 years back not 10.

Grandmother of three!!

[nicmarlo]

“Help the Needy” Aiding Iraq?

Last Update: 2/26/2003 1:12:54 PM
2/26/03

A central New York charity is being prosecuted on charges of sending illegal aid to Iraq. A photocopying business on East Genesee Street in Syracuse is listed as the group's headquarters. Federal agents have also removed boxes of materials from the home of a charity accused of helping Iraq.

Federal agents have raided at least three Syracuse area locations connected to a charitable organization called "Help the Needy." 4 local arrests have been made; oncologist Rafil Dhafir, Maher Zagha, Ayman Jarwan and Osamed al Wahaidy; 4 are indicted on charges of illegally transferring money to Iraq.

The Help the Needy website asks for a $25-a-month donation to sponsor an Iraqi orphan or $45-a-month to sponsor an Iraqi family. Nearly $4-million was instead funneled from Key Bank and Oneida Savings Bank to banks in Jordan.

U.S. Attorney Glen Suddaby says the case concerns Iraqi sanctions violations and money laundering. Federal law prohibits Americans to send aid to Iraq, in place since the Gulf War.

Suddaby has scheduled a news conference this afternoon ... NewsChannel 9 will carry this live.

[Calamari]

Ok. We were on the river late last summer. Left the U.S. side near the 1000 islands bridge crossed back and forth over the border in the river several times. Anchored just inside the U.S. side to fish and then proceeded to cruise back to the marina taking a route mostly on the canadian side. Many boats were anchored in twos and threes. We were never challenged by any patrol boats. It would have been no problem for a boat or jet ski to leave the canadian side and meet a boat from the U.S. side, transfer anything or anyone and go back to Canada while the craft from the U.S. side goes back to the marina on the U.S. side or stops at Alex Bay to buy gas and the cargo dissapears down route 81. No border check point to get through. Maybe things are tighter now but last summer you could have infiltrated the border with out much trouble.

[CyberAnt]

I already said the difference is CODE: ORANGE

Every code level had a cause and effect. The effect being an increased level of security. I do know the orange level includes all dams, all waterways, all bridges, all electric plants, all nuke facilities, etc., are at a heighted alert status, and are now subject to even tighter security.

However, if you want to prove your point ... go ahead ... but when you are SHOT, don't go trying to sue the govt.

[Nick Danger]

Rafil Dhafir's Web Site.

[Calamari]

Ok.

No desire to be shot at. Also can't sue the govt.without their permission and I doubt they would consent.

We were not at code orange until very recently. The damage may all ready be done.

The cells that have been uncovered were here before the increase in alert level and before 911.

Maybe code orange really tightens up the border with Canada as you say.

Will the river be closed to recreational boating this summer?

If not will the authorities be stopping all pleasure craft that use the St. Lawrence?

Are there new Border Patrol check points set up outside the villages and hamlets that border on the river inside the U.S. to catch infiltrators before they get to Rt.81 or Rt.11 or the myriad of county roads and disappear into the vast interior of this country?

Sure, the higher level of alert increases defensive measures to prevent damaging attacks to the targets you listed however short of absolutely closing the river to recreational boaters it is easy to get across the Canadian border to the U.S. on the St. Lawrence river.

Plan to be fishing in the St.Lawrence sometime next summer. I'll be the short, tanned, dark haired, swarthy, second generation, Italian American and I'll have my U.S. passport with me so I don't get hasssled too much by heightened the security. Actually in the past I have had a harder time getting into Canada than coming back to the U.S.

[CyberAnt]

Well ... I wish you success with your "fishing" trips this summer. I believe the war with Iraq will probably determine the threat level by summer.

I used to live in Wolcott - spent many summers at Wolcott on the Lake. Love fly fishing - especially for rainbow trout in a rushing river!!

[piasa]

See also this related story:

ANTI-TERROR FORCES ARREST IDAHO STUDENT

[2right]

Remember the Temple fire on East Genesee Street in Syracuse a few years ago? I wonder what ever became of the investigation.

[2right]

Temple bombing:
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a39e892fa08dc.htm