Free Republic

Man pleads guilty to providing support to Hezbollah The Associated Press 9/18/2003, 4:42 p.m. ET DETROIT (AP) — A man who the government says funneled contraband profits from cigarette trafficking to the Islamic-militant group Hezbollah pleaded guilty Thursday to providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization. Hassan M. Makki, 41, of Dearborn, also pleaded guilty to a racketeering conspiracy charge, according to a plea agreement filed in U.S. District Court. Under the agreement, he faces up to 5 years and 11 months in prison and a fine up to $250,000 when sentenced Dec. 16. If the sentence is greater,...

<p>The U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service has detained at an unknown location a former Sudanese Air Force pilot who may have been planning to hijack an airliner and fly it into a target in the United States, U.S. officials told CNN on Friday.</p>

<p>GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — A Sudanese pilot who officials say is being investigated for possible al Qaeda links is accused in an affidavit of falsifying immigration documents in an attempt to stay in the United States.</p> <p>FBI agents said in the affidavit filed in federal court that Mekki Hamed Mekki said he submitted several forms with variations of name, date of birth and place of birth to improve his chances in an immigration lottery.</p>