Posted on 11/23/2009 2:32:12 PM PST by Cindy
Note: The following text is a quote:
Department of Justice Office of Public Affairs FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMonday, November 23, 2009
Arrests Made in Case Involving Conspiracy to Procure Weapons, Including Anti-Aircraft Missiles
Arrests were made today in a case involving a conspiracy to procure weapons, including anti-aircraft missiles.
A criminal complaint, unsealed today, charged Dani Nemr Tarraf with conspiring to acquire anti-aircraft missiles (FIM-92 Stingers) and conspiring to possess machine guns (approximately 10,000 Colt M4 Carbines). In addition, Tarraf and other defendants including Douri Nemr Tarraf, Hassan Mohamad Komeiha, and Hussein Ali Asfour were charged with conspiring to transport stolen goods. Dani Nemr Tarraf and Ali Fadel Yahfoufi were charged with conspiring to commit passport fraud.
"Keeping missiles, machine guns and other sensitive U.S. weapons technology from falling into the wrong hands is one of the Justice Departments top priorities. I applaud the many agents, analysts and prosecutors who worked tirelessly to bring about these charges and arrests," said David Kris, Assistant Attorney General for National Security.
"This investigation demonstrates the dedication and cooperation of law enforcement agents from numerous agencies," said U.S. Attorney Michael L. Levy. "These cases show the breadth of criminal activity engaged in by those who oppose us. The crimes charged here range from the purchase of stolen and counterfeit goods, to the purchase of false visas and passports, to the purchase of weapons. I want to compliment the law enforcement agents, the Assistant United States Attorneys, and the attorneys in the National Security Division of the Department of Justice for their efforts."
According to the complaint, Hassan Mohamad Komeiha began purchasing purportedly stolen cellular telephones from a law enforcement officer acting in an undercover capacity (the "UC") in or about June 2007. Over the next several months, Komeiha and his co-conspirators [Dani Nemr Tarraf, Douri Nemr Tarraf, and Hussein Ali Asfour] purchased purportedly stolen goods from the UC, including cellular telephones, laptop computers, Sony Play Station 2 systems and automobiles.
The complaint also alleges that Dani Nemr Tarraf conspired to acquire anti-aircraft missiles and conspired to possess machine guns. According to the complaint, in or about mid-June 2009, Tarraf asked whether the UC could supply guided missiles and told the UC that he (Tarraf) wanted the UC to export approximately 10,000 "commando" machine guns [Colt M4 Carbines with short barrels] from the United States. On or about July 28, 2009, in Philadelphia, Tarraf paid the UC a deposit of approximately $20,000 toward the cost of purchasing FIM-92 Stinger missiles and approximately 10,000 Colt M4 Carbines and shipping these items outside the United States.
Finally, the complaint alleges that Dani Nemr Tarraf and his assistant, Ali Fadel Yahfoufi, conspired to commit passport fraud. In furtherance of their scheme, Yahfoufi provided passport photos of himself to the UC, Tarraf agreed to pay the UC to obtain a U.S. passport in Yahfoufis name, and Yahfoufi instructed the UC to submit false information to the U.S. government in a passport application.
"The FBI remains resolutely committed to working with our law enforcement partners to find and stop those individuals who commit crimes, such as those alleged today, in support of a broader intent to commit acts of terrorism against the United States," said Special Agent-in-Charge Janice K. Fedarcyk, of the Philadelphia Division of the FBI. "Today, through the well-coordinated effort of all involved agencies, dangerous weapons have been kept out of the hands of those who would turn those weapons against the United States."
"ICE will continue to work with its law enforcement partners to disrupt networks involved in the illegal sale and distribution of weapons and critical technologies," said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Assistant Secretary John Morton. "Todays arrests are a clear indication of the federal governments commitment to keeping Americans safe."
Information regarding the defendants is below:
Dani Nemr Tarraf, of Trnava, Slovakia, was born in 1971 and faces a potential maximum sentence of life imprisonment if convicted. Douri Nemr Tarraf, of Trnava, Slovakia, was born in 1973 and faces a potential maximum sentence of five years imprisonment if convicted. Hassan Mohamad Komeiha, of Lebanon and Dearborn, Mich., was born in 1970 and faces a potential maximum sentence of five years imprisonment if convicted. Hussein Ali Asfour, a/k/a "Alex," of Centreville, Ga., was born in 1976 and faces a potential maximum sentence of five years imprisonment if convicted. Ali Fadel Yahfoufi, of Trnava, Slovakia, was born in 1969 and faces a potential maximum sentence of five years in prison if convicted. This case was investigated by the FBIs Joint Terrorism Task Force, the New Jersey State Police, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Secret Service, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the Philadelphia Police Department, the Department of Commerce, Customs and Border Protection, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Federal Air Marshals, Pennsylvania State Police, and the Department of State.
It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nancy Beam Winter and Stephen A. Miller, and National Security Division Counter-terrorism Section Trial Attorney Jolie F. Zimmerman.
Okay, I checked. Colt has sold over 400,000 M4s to the US Army. Still, 10,000 is a huge number of weapons to get in one place.
Passport fraud??? What about charging them as terrorist!!!
Dani Nemr Tarraf, of Trnava, Slovakia, was born in 1971 and faces a potential maximum sentence of life imprisonment if convicted. Douri Nemr Tarraf, of Trnava, Slovakia, was born in 1973 and faces a potential maximum sentence of five years imprisonment if convicted. Hassan Mohamad Komeiha, of Lebanon and Dearborn, Mich., was born in 1970 and faces a potential maximum sentence of five years imprisonment if convicted. Hussein Ali Asfour, a/k/a "Alex," of Centreville, Ga., was born in 1976 and faces a potential maximum sentence of five years imprisonment if convicted. Ali Fadel Yahfoufi, of Trnava, Slovakia, was born in 1969 and faces a potential maximum sentence of five years in prison if convicted.
What a freaking minute!!!
maximum sentence of five years imprisonment!!!
“Wow, glad they stopped those right wing militia nuts.”
Those guys are scary with their beady little eyes and their copies of the Constitution.
“These guys are suckers.”
That’s the bottom line in all these cases. I mean, has there *ever* been a case where this happened for real - thousands of weapons, SAMs, explosives in quantity ? Certainly not within the United States.
Dang Poles acting up again!!!!
Dani Nemr Tarraf... Douri Nemr Tarraf, Hassan Mohamad Komeiha, and Hussein Ali AsfourJust an idea, apropos of nothing -- a gallows that can do four simultaneous hangings.
So now M-4 machine guns are high technology? What a JOKE. Fed.gov LOSERS.
It must be a bunch of those darn teenagers and youths. When will they grow up?
Plenty of time to be mentored by the loads of radical imams in prison in new techniques to hide from authorities
“OK, listen Ackmed. Next time be sure to check out your sources before you agree to buy missiles. I've got a safe supplier of rocket propelled grenades and suite case nukes. Now come here for a nuggy.”
Note: The following post is a quote:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2393853/posts
Centerville Man Charged in International Theft Ring
13WMAZ ^ | November 24, 2009 | Bernard ODonnell
Posted on November 24, 2009 4:05:09 PM PST by Never on my watch
The FBI says a Centerville man is charged with buying and shipping about 7,000 stolen cell phones in connection with an international ring trafficking weapons and stolen goods.
According to the FBI, Hussein Ali Asfour of Centerville is charged with conspiracy to transport stolen property and faces up to five years in prison. A criminal complaint in the case listed his address as 100 Cross Link Trail.
USA Today reports that Asfour was charged along with four other men, including three accused of trying to buy Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and machine guns destined for Syria or Iran.
USA Today describes the five men as Lebanese...
(Excerpt) Read more at 13wmaz.com ...
The US Military is in the process of replacing 400,000 M4s that were acquired over the last... 12+ years, a Freeper with better knowledge can probably name the exact date.
That would mean 10,000 would be about 3 months of total factory output.
Nothing that the DoJ would even notice, malakim.
/s
Persistent rumors have this: In 1998 Chinese Triads imported 5,000+ Chinese clone AK74s and AK47s to Mexican drug gangs in the LA/Tijuana metroplex. Supposedly through container ships at Long Beach.
Yeah, I remember hearing that, too. Any guns that come from the US are incidental to what the gangs can buy on their own. It’s just a back-door attempt to disarm Americans.
NOTE The following text is a quote:
http://www.ice.gov/news/releases/1103/110316philadelphia.htm
MARCH 16, 2011 PHILADELPHIA, PA
Alleged supporter of terrorist group indicted
Slovakia native charged with providing material support to Hizballah
PHILADELPHIA - A dual citizen of the United States and Slovakia was charged on Tuesday with conspiring to provide material support to Hizballah, which has been designated by the U.S. Department of State to be a terrorist organization. This case was jointly investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the FBI.
Dani Nemr Tarraf is among several defendants charged in the conspiracy. According to the criminal complaint, Tarraf worked to obtain items for the benefit of Hizballah, including Stinger missiles, Colt M-4 fully automatic carbines, Glock pistols, sniper-detection technology, night-vision and thermal-imaging equipment, wireless networking equipment, lensatic compasses and two-way radios.
If convicted of all charges, Tarraf faces a statutory maximum sentence of life in prison. He was originally charged with four others in November 2009.
The case was investigated by the following agencies: FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); the New Jersey State Police; Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division; the U.S. Secret Service; the Defense Criminal Investigative Service; the Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement; U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and Explosives; Federal Air Marshals; Pennsylvania State Police; and the Philadelphia Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nancy Beam Winter and Vineet Gauri, and National Security Division Counterterrorism Section Trial Attorney Jolie F. Zimmerman.
http://www.investigativeproject.org/documents/case_docs/1504.pdf
#
http://www.investigativeproject.org/2699/german-national-indicted-in-hizballah-aid-case
For The Record - The IPT Blog
“German National Indicted In Hizballah Aid Case”
by IPT News Mar 17, 2011 at 6:12 pm
SNIPPET: “Dani Nemr Tarraf, a German national, worked with others to “acquire weapons and other equipment for the benefit of Hizballah,” including anti-aircraft missiles, from about January 2007 through November 2009, the indictment says.
In June 2009, Tarraf told undercover agents in Philadelphia that he wanted to purchase guided missiles that could “take down an F-16.” He also asked the undercover agents to obtain weapons to be shipped to either Iran or Syria for use by the “Resistance.”
Tarraf and others purchased stolen goods including laptops, cell phones, BMWs and other equipment to be transported to places including Lebanon, Syria and Iran. In 2009, Tarraf provided $30,000 in cash to undercover agents for a shipment of Stinger missiles, Colt M-4 carbines and anti-armor weapons to the port of Latakia, Syria.”
stepping back in time to 2009:
http://www.myfoxphilly.com/dpp/news/local_news/112309_5_arrested_in_terrorism_sting_in_philly
“Man Arrested In Missile Sting In Philly
2 In Custody, 3 More Sought In Alleged Terror Plot”
PHILADELPHIA -
SNIPPET: “Dani Nemr Tarraf, who has residences in Lebanon and Slovakia, was arrested Saturday on charges of conspiracy to possess machine guns and conspiracy to acquire a missile system designed to destroy aircraft.”
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