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'Scary' U of M student jailed, Possible terrorism ties under investigation
commercialappeal.com - Memphis, TN ^ | September 16, 2005 | Chris Conley

Posted on 09/16/2005 5:58:17 AM PDT by gg188

'Scary' U of M student jailed
Possible terrorism ties under investigation

By Chris Conley

September 16, 2005

When FBI agents walked into Mahmoud Maawad's spartan apartment at 3557 Mynders # 5 on Sept. 9, they found a desk, chair, computer and a Koran.

They also found an airline pilot's uniform, a chart of Memphis International Airport, and instructional DVDs, including one called "How an Airline Captain Should Look and Act."

A federal magistrate Thursday ordered Maawad, a 29-year-old University of Memphis student from Egypt, jailed until his trial on charges of wire fraud and fraudulent use of a Social Security number.

"The specific facts and circumstances are scary," Asst. U.S. Atty. Steve Parker said, arguing against Maawad's release.

Since Maawad can't get a Social Security number, "he can't get a pilot's license, and can't go to flight school," Parker said. "But he wants to get behind the wheel of an aircraft."

Parker said "we don't know either way" if Maawad is a terrorist or connected to any terror groups.

U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Thomas Anderson ruled that Maawad be held without bond.

Though it's not illegal to buy aviation material, Anderson noted, "it is hard for the court to understand why he has a large concentration of those items, and nothing else to indicate Mr. Maawad plans to stay in the community."

Maawad has been in the country illegally since 1999, and has used a false Social Security number to enroll in schools and open a bank account, Parker said.

He's been working off-the-books for cash at a North Memphis convenience store, and was arrested by Shelby County sheriff's deputies last spring for selling alcohol to a minor.

Agents are downloading information from Maawad's computer and analyzing materials from his apartment in search of a terrorism connection.

"My school is everything," said Maawad, a clean-shaven man built like a weightlifter. "I stay in this country for seven years; I stay for the school."

Maawad said he's studying science and economics at the U of M.

Since Maawad can't work legally, he told authorities a friend would support him.

When court employees tried to reach that friend, the telephone was disconnected.

Between April and August, the penniless student ordered $3,000 in aviation materials, DVDs titled "Ups and Downs of Takeoffs and Landings," "Airplane Talk," "Mental Math for Pilots" and "Mastering GPS Flying," FBI agent Thad Gulczynski testified.

He also ordered a pilot's coat and hat, and a chart of the Memphis airport terminal area from Spotty's USA in San Diego.

When the company didn't receive payment on $2,500 worth of merchandise it had delivered, officials called the FBI, which launched an investigation, Gulczynski said.

-- Chris Conley: 529-2595

Copyright 2005, commercialappeal.com - Memphis, TN. All Rights Reserved.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: immigrantlist
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To: cloud8

Now don't jump to conclusions. Just because Mahmoud had a pilot's uniform and instructional material on how to fly an airplane, does not mean he was up to something bad.

After all, he had a Koran in his room. He's probably quite a religious little fellow.


21 posted on 09/16/2005 6:16:03 AM PDT by San Jacinto
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To: Capriole
I don't think he had handlers just based on the evidence presented in this article. It says he got $3000 in aviation materials, but never paid $2,500 of it.

I don't think he was financed. I do think he was a nut. Good thing AQ did not find him first, IMHO.

22 posted on 09/16/2005 6:16:38 AM PDT by Jalapeno
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To: cloud8

If they're not too busy, perhaps the FBI can make a list of businesses that sell these uniforms and books.


23 posted on 09/16/2005 6:16:39 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: cynicom
A friend will support him. Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
24 posted on 09/16/2005 6:17:23 AM PDT by cripplecreek (Never a minigun handy when you need one.)
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To: Capriole

I totally agree. Greed first, patriotism second. I'd like to know the name of the company so I can boycott its products (which I am sure I would never buy in the first place).


25 posted on 09/16/2005 6:17:49 AM PDT by Juan Medén
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To: wideawake

I always thought it was crazy to make the cockpits impregnable for the very reason you mention.

Also, a year or so before 9/11 there was an Egyptian passenger plane that did a nosedive into the ocean right off the coast of New York, with the pilot forcing the plane into the ocean. Some theorized that the pilot was supposed to crash into a NYC target, but instead, forced his plane into the ocean.

In our country, almost every airport calls itself an "International" Airport, accepting flights that originate from foreign countries. Some of these airports are pretty deep inside our borders and the direct flights from overseas to these airports pass over vast areas of our country.

These flights come in on airlines from Egypt and Pakistan, and it worries me that a fanatic pilot could kill his cockpit crew (and while safely behind his impregnable cockpit door) pilot his plane into a nuclear or chemical plant.


26 posted on 09/16/2005 6:20:05 AM PDT by ChiefJayStrongbow
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To: gg188
"Parker said "we don't know either way" if Maawad is a terrorist or connected to any terror groups. "

Dumb@$$...

27 posted on 09/16/2005 6:20:23 AM PDT by Hatteras
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To: highlymotivated

Extract the names of his supporters first.


28 posted on 09/16/2005 6:21:05 AM PDT by conservativewasp (Liberals lie for sport and hate their country. Islam is a terrorist organization.)
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To: Capriole

Yeah, that's what it looks like. We wouldn't have heard of this SOB if he paid for his materials. Next time they will pay.


29 posted on 09/16/2005 6:21:40 AM PDT by zek157
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To: gg188
"My school is everything," said Maawad, a clean-shaven man built like a weightlifter. "I stay in this country for seven years; I stay for the school."

No problem here, let's move on!!
30 posted on 09/16/2005 6:23:45 AM PDT by evaporation-plus
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To: gg188

After all, he could just be a typical Microsoft Flight Simulator geek who likes to dress up in a captain's uniform while making the JFK-LAX run on his computer. ;)


31 posted on 09/16/2005 6:24:48 AM PDT by Mr. Jeeves ("Violence never settles anything." Genghis Khan, 1162-1227)
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To: gg188

Summary execution at half-time?


32 posted on 09/16/2005 6:25:01 AM PDT by Doc Savage (...because they stand on a wall, and they say nothing is going to hurt you tonight, not on my watch!)
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To: gg188
"My school is everything," said Maawad, a clean-shaven man built like a weightlifter

I live in Birmingham, Alabama and last monday 9.11.05 I was at the Gold's working out and there were 3 Middle Eastern guys working out (what caught my eye is one of them had that creepy smug Atta looking face). I kept looking at them the whole time. We also happened to leave at the same time. They were getting in a black Ford (the police car style Ford) with black tinted windows and no license plate. Odds are they aren't terrorist, but the sad thing is they dont even have to worry about getting caught doing silly things like not having a tag. They just get released (if they get caught) and go along their way.
33 posted on 09/16/2005 6:25:29 AM PDT by Boogieman69
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To: gg188
He's been working off-the-books for cash at a North Memphis convenience store

And one can assume the proprieter of this convenience store will be prosecuted for hiring illegal aliens, tax evasion and thwarting State employment laws, right?

...right??

...

...Right!!??

...

...

*crickets chirping*

34 posted on 09/16/2005 6:30:02 AM PDT by Gritty ("The question isn't how dare I call Islam a terror organization, but why more people do not-M Graham)
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To: gg188

I don't think humane rules should apply to people like him...I realize this is America and we don't operate like that...but anyone connected to terrorism should be destroyed publicly.


35 posted on 09/16/2005 6:30:36 AM PDT by ladiesview61
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To: highlymotivated

No, you're acting a little rash here.

First, you torture him to get every bit of info as possible...

...and then you shoot him.


36 posted on 09/16/2005 6:31:05 AM PDT by MplsSteve
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To: Terabitten

The entire National Guard stationed along the Mexican border would not have discovered or stopped this guy. It is a lead pipe cinch he didn't come from that direction. Maybe the Northern border but most likely flew in to an Eastern airport.


37 posted on 09/16/2005 6:32:51 AM PDT by justshutupandtakeit (Public Enemy #1, the RATmedia.)
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To: wideawake

Nah, shoot his toes off, one by one, and see how he sings. If that doesn't work, kneecap him.

If that fails, strap him to a dead pig...then kill him.


38 posted on 09/16/2005 6:33:26 AM PDT by misterrob
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To: gg188
"instructional DVDs, including one called "How an Airline Captain Should Look and Act.""


39 posted on 09/16/2005 6:36:34 AM PDT by Rebelbase ("Run Hillary Run" bumper stickers. Liberals place on rear bumper, conservatives put on front bumper)
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To: justshutupandtakeit
The entire National Guard stationed along the Mexican border would not have discovered or stopped this guy. It is a lead pipe cinch he didn't come from that direction. Maybe the Northern border but most likely flew in to an Eastern airport.

You're probably right. The more I think about it, he probably had an expired student visa. That seems to be the method of choice for the hadjis.

40 posted on 09/16/2005 6:39:30 AM PDT by Terabitten (God grant me the strength to live a life worthy of those who have gone before me.)
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