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Lawyer Mark NeJame returned to Orlando's federal court in an unfamiliar role Tuesday: NeJame -- a former lead attorney prominent Palestinian-American businessman Jesse Maali's defense team identified Tony Pipitone, a reporter at WKMG-Channel 6, as the source of his information (about undercover probe). He (Pipitone) later said NeJame "told the truth, under oath."

Three acid bombs exploded Sunday outside the apartment of a friend of an informant in the high-profile federal case of International Drive magnate Jesse Maali, according to Local 6 News. Acid Bomb Attacks May Be Related To Maali Case Maali is the Palestinian-American businessman awaiting trial after being accused of hiring illegal immigrants and laundering money in Orlando. The federal informant in the case against Maali confirmed Sunday that a friend's apartment was targeted over the weekend, according to the report. One of the three acid bombs was packed with nails, he told the Local 6 Problem Solvers. The informant...

ORLANDO, Fla. -- An arrest warrant was issued Friday for the nephew of local gift shop magnate Jesse Maali for allegedly threatening to kill a government witness, according to Local 6 News. Jessee Maali was arrested last year for allegedly hiring illegal immigrants to work in his gift shops on International Drive. Shortly after his arrest, two attempts were reportedly made on the life of a federal drug informant in the case, Local 6 News reported. According to court records, Maali Fuad Maali, Jesse Maali's nephew, tracked down a friend of the threatened government informant and pointed a gun to...

Defense Denies Orlando Businessman Linked to Terrorist GroupsBy Mike Schneider Associated Press WriterPublished: Nov 18, 2002 ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) - Federal authorities on Monday tried to link terrorist groups to a businessman dubbed by an FBI agent as "the boss" of Orlando's tourist district, but his defense attorney disputed any ties to illegal activities. The federal bond hearing for Jesse Maali, 57, a Palestinian-American who owns T-shirt shops, gift shops and restaurants near area theme parks and hotels, focused more on his views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict than it did on the immigration violation and conspiracy charges he was arrested...

ORLANDO, Fla. -- The arrest of Central Florida's most prominent Arab-American businessman during Thursday's raids of several gift shops in Orlando's tourist district could uncover evidence that the area's tourism industry was used to funnel money to terrorist organizations in the Middle East, according to Local 6 News. Federal agents raided the gift shops Thursday and arrested their owners and managers for employing illegal workers and setting up shell companies to hide payments to them, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. The arrests included Palestinian-American businessman Jesse I. Maali, 57, of Isleworth. Maali and M. Saleem Khanani, 51, of Orlando were...

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Federal agents raided businesses in Orange and Osceola counties Thursday and arrested several people suspected of taking part in an illegal immigration and money laundering operation, according to Local 6 News. Central Florida Organized Crime Task Force agents conducted search warrants Thursday morning at several businesses along International Drive and U.S. Highway 192. Five people and six businesses were indicted on 53 counts of encouraging and inducing aliens to reside in the United States, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. Jesse I. Maali, 57, of Isleworth, and M. Saleen Khanani, 51, who own numerous businesses in Central...

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-asecmaali19111902nov19,0,2277730.story?coll=orl%2Dhome%2Dheadlines I-Drive magnate counters allegations By Henry Pierson Curtis, Pedro Ruz Gutierrez and Beth Kassab Sentinel Staff Writers November 19, 2002 Orlando gift-shop magnate Jesse Maali and his lawyer spent the day in federal court Monday deflecting a string of accusations by prosecutors trying to link him to groups advocating Middle East violence.

About 100 agents swarmed across an International Drive business empire and burst into an Isleworth mansion Thursday, arresting a wealthy and prominent leader of the local Arab-American community and four others on charges of money-laundering and immigration violations. Later, in federal court, a prosecutor hinted at more ominous connections to come in the case, saying that millionaire Palestinian-American businessman and philanthropist Jesse Issa Maali should be held without bail because he has "financial ties to Middle Eastern organizations who advocate violence." * * * Charged in a 55-count federal indictment unsealed Thursday were Maali, 57, of Windermere and one of...