Posted on 04/21/2012 2:33:27 AM PDT by Cindy
NOTE The following text is a quote:
www.ice.gov/news/releases/1204/120420detroit.htm
APRIL 20, 2012 DETROIT, MI
Second Michigan man arrested in explosives investigation
Suspected of possessing more than two tons of bomb-making materials SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – A second man suspected to be involved in an explosives investigation was arrested Thursday by special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and deputies with the Chippewa County Sherriff's Department.
Kenneth Kassab, 53, of Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., was taken into custody without incident Thursday on charges related to the unlawful transportation of explosives and possession of explosives by a convicted felon.
Both charges carry a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in federal prison. Donald Davis, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan; David McCain, ATF special agent in charge in Detroit; and Brian M. Moskowitz, special agent in charge for HSI Michigan and Ohio, announced the arrest.
Kassab was listed in a superseding indictment as a co-defendant with John Francis Lechner, 65, also a resident of Sault Ste. Marie. Lechner was originally the sole defendant in an explosives case stemming from the discovery of 4,200 pounds of a mixture of ammonium nitrate and fuel oil, commonly known as "ANFO," and various other explosive materials, in September 2011. Lechner was arrested last September and remains in custody.
The superseding indictment repeats Lechner's original charges and also adds charges relating to his possession of ANFO with Kassab in November 2010.
Lechner had been set to be tried on the original charges May 21, 2012. With the addition of Kassab as a co-defendant, the trial date is likely to be rescheduled for later in the summer.
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Why is ICE involved in this? Are they illegal immgirants? If not, why doesn’t the FBI and ATF handle this so ICE can be freed up to defend the border.
The Soo is a border town, maybe that’s why ICE is on this.
Couple of older guys.
What was their motivation?
53 is NOT old. (snicker....)
Older than me but not by much.
Answered your own question. Or to quote an old John Prine song (lefty but had some decent lyrics), "A question isn't really a question if you know the answer too".
There are probably stockpiles of SAMs, C4, and automatic weapons in every mosque basement in the US, but wait a second...
Thanks Cindy.
There are few scenes that are more reassuring than at the big river dividing the Twin Saults, at this time of the year. The freighters passing up and down stream. I think that the authorities may have used a provocateur to indict Mr Lechner. I may be wrong and will follow the case carefully. There can be awful and destructive sentences passed on persons by the law. I hope both men can give a good account of themselves.
The last real flurry of suspicion I remember on things that were potentially explosive here, was in Oct 2001. I knew the Canadian security guard who saw residents of Dearborn, Michigan (yes you guess right), taking numerous video pictures under the International Bridge. He went the extra mile to tell the America border people. Nasty scare tactics in my opinion by these men. Claimed they were "tourists". It was shrugged off by the border people as far as we know. If fairness, there is a lot the average Joe does not know about internal policies.
A bit of excitement for the local press, no doubt. They need stories. John Dillinger visited his buddy's sister in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan in 1934. The Feds just missed him. I do hope this case is resolved to the satisfaction of all.
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