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Post by KC on Aug 12, 2006 23:25:21 GMT -5
August 12, 2006 - CARO, Mich. - Three Texas men were arraigned Saturday on terrorism-related charges after police found about 1,000 cell phones in their minivan.
Investigators believe the men were targeting the 5-mile-long Mackinac Bridge, which connects Michigan's Upper and Lower peninsulas. But one of the men said they were only trying to buy and sell phones to make money.
A magistrate set bond at $750,000 for each of the men, who are charged with collecting or providing materials for terrorist acts and surveillance of a vulnerable target for terrorist purposes. No pleas were made at the arraignment at a District Court in Caro, about 80 miles north of Detroit.
Officials have not said what they believe the men intended to do with the phones, most of which were prepaid TracFones. But Caro's police chief said cell phones can be used as detonators, and prosecutors in a similar case in Ohio have said that TracFones are often used by terrorists because they are not traceable.
"All we did is buy the phones to sell and make money," Louai Abdelhamied Othman told the magistrate. He said it wasn't the first time the group had been questioned.
"We've been checked by the FBI before," he said. "They even gave us their card and everything."
Tuscola County Prosecutor Mark E. Reene told The Saginaw News that investigators believe the men were targeting the Mackinac Bridge. He declined to say what led investigators to that belief.
Reene and the FBI did not return phone messages Saturday to The Associated Press.
Othman and Maruan Awad Muhareb, both of Mesquite, Texas, and Adham Abdelhamid Othman, of Dallas, were stopped before dawn Friday after they purchased 80 cell phones from a Wal-Mart in Caro. Police said they found about 1,000 cell phones in their minivan.
The men cooperated with police and the FBI for hours before their arrests Friday afternoon. Adham and Louai Othman are in their early 20s, and Muhareb is 18. All are being held at the Tuscola County Jail, Caro police said.
The arrests in Caro came three days after two men were arrested in Marietta, Ohio, where police said they aroused suspicions when they acknowledged buying about 600 phones in recent months at stores in southeast Ohio.
Ali Houssaiky and Osama Abulhassan, both 20 and from Detroit suburb of Dearborn, have been charged with two felonies — money laundering in support of terrorism and soliciting or providing support for acts of terrorism — and misdemeanor falsification. A preliminary hearing on the felony counts was set for Tuesday.
Defense lawyers said Houssaiky and Abulhassan planned to resell the phones simply to make money. They say the men were targeted only because they are of Arab descent.
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Post by KC on Aug 12, 2006 23:44:48 GMT -5
What law did they break? Is there really a legal limit on cell phone purchases?
Maybe the "thought police" could have said they thought a mini van was capable of putting kidnaped people in it or it could have been used to run people over? That's another reason they should have been arrested, right? Maybe the "thought police" thought they were going to throw the cell phones at people and cause harm? Maybe the "thought police" thought they would use the phones to make crank calls?
Maybe they were arrested because they were Arabs? After all our government has picked on and harassed the Native Indians, blacks and the Hispanics. Whites aren't too far down the road as the next target.
Throw away phones are great, I have six right now. Maybe the police will come knocking on my door?
Bush has done nothing but fucked up this country and I for one am not to proud of this. I suppose since I'm not very patriotic right now, I will probably be getting my door kicked in here pretty soon?
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Post by KC on Aug 14, 2006 21:06:19 GMT -5
August 14, 2006 - CARO, Mich. - The FBI said Monday it had no information to indicate that the three Texas men arrested with about 1,000 cell phones in their van had any direct connection to known terrorist groups.
Also, a prosecutor in a separate Ohio case said he can't prove a terrorism link to two men arrested after buying large numbers of cell phones and will drop terrorism charges against them.
In the Michigan case, authorities had increased patrols on the 5-mile-long Mackinac Bridge after local prosecutors said investigators believed the men were targeting the span.
Local authorities didn't say what they believed the men intended to do with the phones, most of which were prepaid TracFones, but Caro's police chief noted that cell phones can be untraceable and used as detonators.
The FBI issued a news release Monday saying there is no imminent threat to the bridge linking Michigan's upper and lower peninsulas.
The release also said the FBI had no information indicating that the men, Palestinian-Americans living in Texas, had any direct links to any known terrorist groups or to the alleged plot to bomb trans-Atlantic jetliners that was announced in London last week.
William Kowalski, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI's Detroit field office, said authorities believe concern about the bridge was connected to images of the Mackinac Bridge found on a digital camera belonging to the men.
Kowalski said there was nothing illegal about buying cell phones in bulk, but that profits from that kind of activity can be suspicious.
Adham Abdelhamid Othman, 21, of Dallas, and Maruan Awad Muhareb, 18, and Louai Abdelhamied Othman, 23, both of Mesquite, Texas, were stopped by police Friday outside a Wal-Mart store in Caro, about 80 miles north of Detroit after employees became suspicious when they purchased about 80 cell phones.
Local prosecutors charged them with collecting or providing materials for terrorist acts and surveillance of a vulnerable target for terrorist purposes.
The men told a magistrate Saturday that they were buying the phones for resale.
Louai Othman's wife, Lina Odeh, told The Associated Press on Saturday that she thought her husband and relatives were targeted because of their Arab descent. She said the men's families come from Jerusalem.
Tuscola County Prosecutor Mark E. Reene said Monday that representatives of his office and Caro police had met with Sunday with officials from the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. attorney's office. He said all the agencies were working together on the investigation.
Messages seeking further comment from Reene were not immediately returned.
In Ohio, prosecutor James Schneider said he didn't have enough evidence to present felony terrorism charges for Ali Houssaiky and Osama Abulhassan, both of Dearborn, Mich., to a grand jury.
The two men face a misdemeanor count of falsification accusing them of lying about why they bought the phones, Schneider said.
"We're grateful the Washington County Prosecutor's Office has been willing to keep an open mind and look at all the evidence and make their decisions based on the evidence," said William Swor, who is representing Houssaiky.
The FBI is reviewing the Ohio case and staying in touch with local authorities. No federal charges are pending, said special agent Mike Brooks of the FBI.
Authorities stopped the men on a traffic violation in Marietta, Ohio, on Aug. 8 and said they found airplane passenger lists and information on airport security checkpoints, along with $11,000 cash and 12 phones, in their car.
Abulhassan and Houssaiky admitted buying about 600 phones in recent months at stores in southeast Ohio and selling them to someone in Dearborn.
Defense attorneys said the government had no evidence the phones were being used illegally and the men planned to resell the phones simply to make money. They also said the airport and airplane information were old papers left in the car by a relative who worked at an airport.
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Post by KC on Aug 14, 2006 21:07:07 GMT -5
Racial profiling is a way of life in the USA.
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Post by WaTcHeR on Aug 15, 2006 18:13:59 GMT -5
The FBI said Monday it had no information to indicate that the three Texas men arrested with about 1,000 cell phones in their van had any direct connection to known terrorist groups. Also, a prosecutor in a separate Ohio case said he can't prove a terrorism link to two men arrested after buying large numbers of cell phones and will drop terrorism charges against them. Of course they can't prove these guys are guilty of anything. You have over zealous cops that think like our government "if you ain't white, then you ain't right." Can you imagine these innocent people sitting in jail with rapist and murderers and some one ask what they are in for. "Ummmm yeah we got arrested because we were trying to do the "American Deam" and make a living off of selling a legal product in the land of the free. Another words we were arrested for having too many damn cell phones." WTF? Local authorities didn't say what they believed the men intended to do with the phones, most of which were prepaid TracFones, but Caro's police chief noted that cell phones can be untraceable and used as detonators. Yeah and so fucking what? If the cell phones are that much of a danger to American citizens, then why the hell hasn't Congress outlawed them? The phones are perfectly legal to have and yet some dumb ass Ohio cops make a false arrest. The FBI issued a news release Monday saying there is no imminent threat to the bridge linking Michigan's upper and lower peninsulas. Yeah right, reassurance from the F.B.I. really makes me feel warm and safe.  William Kowalski, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI's Detroit field office, said authorities believe concern about the bridge was connected to images of the Mackinac Bridge found on a digital camera belonging to the men. If anyone takes pictures of buildings, bridges, landmarks they are automatically considered a Terrorist. Of course if your not white, chances are you will be singled out. Attention tourist don't bring cameras to America when you visit. Kowalski said there was nothing illegal about buying cell phones in bulk, but that profits from that kind of activity can be suspicious. If it's not illegal, then why did Ohio "dick for brains" police officers arrest the men? Oh yeah we can thank the Nazi Patriot Act for that arrest. Why isn't President Bush gone yet? Local prosecutors charged them with collecting or providing materials for terrorist acts and surveillance of a vulnerable target for terrorist purposes. Again you can thank Bush and the Patriot Act for this false arrest! Louai Othman's wife, Lina Odeh, told The Associated Press on Saturday that she thought her husband and relatives were targeted because of their Arab descent. She said the men's families come from Jerusalem. It's never a good time in this country, to be anything other then white. That's specially how cops see it. The two men face a misdemeanor count of falsification accusing them of lying about why they bought the phones, Schneider said. I would have told Schneider that I bought the phones to shove up his ass and that would be no lie! Besides what law says you have to tell what your going to do with a product? The suspects must have "voluntarily" given that information without an attorney present. That's bad.  Authorities stopped the men on a traffic violation in Marietta, Ohio, on Aug. 8 and said they found airplane passenger lists and information on airport security checkpoints, along with $11,000 cash and 12 phones, in their car. No they were stopped because Wal-mart is working with the Homeland Security, as their little snitch bitches. That was the only reason the cops went looking for them in the first place is because of Walmart. How come you never hear of Terrorist wanting to blow up Wal-Mart? |
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Post by WaTcHeR on Aug 17, 2006 9:13:56 GMT -5
08.17.2006 - BAY CITY, Mich. - Three Palestinian-Americans who were found with nearly 1,000 cell phones now face federal charges of money laundering and conspiracy to commit fraud after a county prosecutor backed off terrorism charges filed earlier. Maruan Muhareb, 18; Adham Othman, 21; and Louai Othman, 23, all of the Dallas area, were charged yesterday in Bay City with conspiracy to defraud consumers and telephone providers by trafficking in counterfeit goods. They also were charged with money laundering on suspicion that they used proceeds from the cell phone transactions to buy more phones. Magistrate Judge Charles Binder ordered the men held at least until a detention hearing tomorrow. They were arrested Friday after buying dozens of cell phones at a Wal-Mart. "So it's a crime now to shop at Wal-Mart"? The three men had been charged in Michigan with collecting or providing materials for terrorist acts and surveillance of a vulnerable target for terrorist purposes. Prosecutor Mark E. Reene asked a judge yesterday to dismiss those charges. Nabih Ayad, an attorney for the men, called the new charges "outrageous." The federal complaint contains no mention of terrorism. It alleges that the three men defrauded consumers, TracFone Wireless Inc. and Nokia Corp. TracFone sells prepaid cell phones with a limited number of minutes at subsidized prices. The federal government alleges that the men are part of a scheme to buy up phones that Nokia makes for TracFone and then remove TracFone's proprietary software, enabling use of the handsets with any cellular provider. "When was the last time we were able to believe anything our government has told us?" Supporters say the Texas men were targeted because of their ethnicity. They say the three were hoping to resell phones for a profit and that their purchases had nothing to do with terrorism. Advocates say photos the men took of the Mackinac Bridge, which led to the surveillance charge, were tourist snapshots. The head of the Michigan State Police said there was no indication the men were plotting an attack. www.baltimoresun.com/news/nationworld/bal-te.phones17aug17,0,5037352.story?coll=bal-nationworld-headlines |
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Post by KC on Aug 17, 2006 23:04:09 GMT -5
Didn't the Nazi Storm Troopers usually go around picking up people and then eventually finding something later to charge them with? This is still America isn't it?
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Post by WaTcHeR on Aug 18, 2006 10:11:30 GMT -5
08.18.2006 - BAY CITY -- Lawyers for three Texas men once accused of plotting to blow up the Mackinac Bridge claim the government is bailing out an overzealous prosecutor by bringing unprecedented charges. Until Wednesday, even the FBI said the business of buying and altering cell phones -- as the men claim was their only motive -- was a legal enterprise, and that the only issue was whether proceeds end up in terrorist coffers. But now, the FBI and U.S. attorneys in Bay City say the entrepreneurial behavior of three Americans of Palestinian descent amounts to fraud, not terrorism. "Our research shows us that this prosecution is the first of its kind under these circumstances," the trio's Dearborn defense attorney, Nabih H. Ayad, and his team said. "This is absolutely out of the realm. " They're just trying to get out of the hole they dug for themselves," he added, referring to a judge's dismissal Wednesday of the state terrorism charges brought by Tuscola County Prosecutor Mark E. Reene. "It's unfortunate for a credible agency like the FBI and the U.S. attorney to bail out a buddy because they goofed." Assistant U.S. Attorney Janet Parker from the Bay City office declined comment. She is charging Adham A. Othman, 21, his brother, Louai A. Othman, 23, and their cousin, Maruan A. Muhareb, 18, each with two identical counts of conspiring to traffic in counterfeit goods and money-laundering. Taking on an industry? Their arrests Friday with 999 cell phones and digital photos of the bridge didn't just play on fears of terrorists. It also drew the media spotlight to the trio's alibi: They made a living driving around the country buying prepaid cell phones in bulk, converting them and reselling them, a criminal complaint claims. Andrea Kinzig, a certified public accountant and special agent with the FBI office in Bay City, apparently broke new ground in a criminal complaint dated Tuesday. In it she says the three men defrauded cell phone manufacturers TracFone Wireless Inc. and Nokia Corp. by buying the phones cheap, then removing software that unlocks the devices so buyers may use them with any cellular provider. The trio's practice is not isolated. Wireless phone manufacturers and providers are steamed over a growing black-market industry. Many have filed civil lawsuits and taken other steps to stop exactly what the government claims the Othmans and Muhareb were doing. "It's a huge problem," said Roger Entner, an analyst for Ovum, a London, England, technology, research and consulting firm. "It can bankrupt wireless carriers." But there apparently are no publicized criminal prosecutions of the practice, which appears loosely regulated and legal. FBI statements this week backed the practice's legality. Bureau spokesman Stephen Kodak told The Associated Press in a Wednesday story about the business of altering and reselling cell phones that the only concerns are over whether the money generated ends up funding terrorism. "We haven't seen any nexus at this time," Kodak said, speaking generally of the practice. The three men told FBI agents they believed their buyers sold the phones to California, New York, and Miami middlemen, who reprogrammed the devices and sold them overseas. Miami, Fla.-based TracFone sells Nokia-made phones with a limited number of minutes, profiting once buyers purchase additional minutes from the company. The company loses with unlocked phones that let buyers purchase minutes from any provider. Kinzig further alleges that the altered phones no longer are genuine Nokia products even though they appear like them. That makes them counterfeit, she says. Consumer advocates contend locking the phones is illegal in the first place, and say there are no court rulings about the legality of removing the phones' software. To continue the story CLICK LINK below: www.mlive.com/news/sanews/index.ssf?/base/news-4/115582084837840.xml&coll=9&thispage=3 |
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Post by WaTcHeR on Aug 18, 2006 10:13:48 GMT -5
Assistant U.S. Attorney Janet Parker, the F.B.I. and the Ohio police are the "real" terrorist!
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dyson
New Member
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Post by dyson on Aug 22, 2006 8:40:16 GMT -5
yea they were doing something very funny, so i think the FBI made a good call by arresting them
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Post by WaTcHeR on Aug 24, 2006 17:41:29 GMT -5
yea they were doing something very funny, so i think the FBI made a good call by arresting them You ought to take your ass out this country and go start another Nazi Germany. Storm Troopers always arrested people for doing "funny" stuff. The organization of Fucking Bunch of Idiots (F.B.I), are just that, idiots. |
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Post by WaTcHeR on Sept 9, 2006 16:42:11 GMT -5
09.09.2006 - DALLAS, TX. - One of three men wrongly accused of planning a terror attack on a Michigan bridge said Thursday said he plans no formal action and just wants authorities to issue a public apology.
Louai Othman, 23, who spoke at the Council on American-Islamic Relations office in Dallas, said his bank account was closed and neighbors accuse him of being a terrorist. He said officials targeted him because of his race.
"We just want them to come on TV and apologize," Othman said. "Give us our innocence back."
Gina Balaya, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Detroit, did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.
A federal judge in Michigan ruled Tuesday that prosecutors failed to present enough evidence to justify bringing Othman and two others to trial on conspiracy and money laundering charges involving the buying and reselling of prepaid cell phones. They were cleared earlier of terror charges.
Othman, 23, his brother Adham Othman, 21, and their cousin Maruan Muhareb, 18, all of the Dallas suburb of Mesquite, are Palestinian-American. They were arrested Aug. 11 after buying large numbers of prepaid cell phones at a Wal-Mart outlet in Caro, Mich., about 80 miles north of Detroit.
The other two former defendants did not appear at the Dallas news conference, which was called by CAIR, a civil rights group.
Othman said he has visited 15 states to buy prepaid cell phones for resale in Texas with few problems, but that the three were detained briefly in Wisconsin a day before their arrest.
He said he hopes to resume a normal life, but will change his line of work.
"I'm going to find a job or do something else, maybe work at a computer store," he said.
Othman, who never felt personally affected by prejudice before the Michigan arrest, said he would probably move from his Mesquite apartment. He said the ordeal could someday prevent him from getting a job with the government.
"They shouldn't treat people different. We all bleed the same blood," he said. "We're not different than anybody else."
Tuscola County authorities in Michigan said they were alarmed by the hundreds of prepaid cell phones they said were found in the men's van and by images on their digital camera of the five-mile-long Mackinac Bridge, which links Michigan's two peninsulas.
They charged the men with collecting or providing materials for terrorist acts and with surveillance of a vulnerable target for terrorist purposes.
The FBI and state police later said there was no imminent threat to the landmark span and no information linking the Othmans and Muhareb to known terrorist groups.
Mustafaa Carroll, a CAIR board member in Dallas, called the charges "ludicrous."
"It doesn't take 1,000 cell phones to do something bad," he said. "I know everybody wants to feel safe and be sure we don't have another 9/11, but we can't just trample people's rights under the auspices of helping everybody else."
Ultimately, CAIR officials said, Muslims are overjoyed that the charges were dropped.
"I hope the whole Dallas-Fort Worth community will celebrate together that this chapter was closed, and it closed with a happy ending," said Nabil Sadoun, another board member of the Islamic group in Dallas.
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Post by WaTcHeR on Sept 9, 2006 16:45:52 GMT -5
One of three men wrongly accused of planning a terror attack on a Michigan bridge said Thursday said he plans no formal action and just wants authorities to issue a public apology. He's not going to sue? He really thinks the government and police will apologize for being idiots? |
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