Posted on 12/18/2002 6:49:14 AM PST by twas
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Three relatives of a man accused of belonging to an al-Qaida terror cell in Lackawanna were arrested and charged with illegally operating a money transferring business.
Investigators have been unable to trace any of the money to terrorist activities, said U.S. Attorney Michael Battle.
Mohamed Albanna, 51, a leader in the area's Yemeni community and an uncle of a man still being hunted by U.S. authorities, was seized by Customs and Drug Enforcement Administration agents in the doorway of his Buffalo store, the Queen City Cigarettes and Candy Co.
His younger brother, 29-year-old Ali Albanna, and a 52-year-old cousin, Ali Taher Elbaneh, also were arrested.
All three were indicted by a federal grand jury on a charge they sent more than $480,000 to Yemen without a license to operate a money transferring business, which is required by state law. Federal prosecutors also said the business was not registered with the U.S. Department of Treasury as required by federal law.
All three pleaded innocent at their arraignment in front of U.S. District Judge Hugh Scott. If convicted, they face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Scott ordered the men held until a hearing Wednesday. Federal prosecutors asked that the Albannas, described as the principal operators of the business, each be jailed on $100,000 bond. The prosecutor asked for $20,000 bond on Elbaneh.
Philip Marshall, a lawyer for Mohamed Albanna, said his client has been a U.S. citizen for 27 years, has lived in western New York since 1970 and has not left the country for 20 years. For that reason, he maintains his client is not a flight risk.
Federal prosecutor Timothy Lynch said the men sent the money out of the country between October and December. He said Mohamed Albanna has been transferring money illegally for two to three years.
During a series of raids Tuesday, $130,000 was confiscated from Mohamed Albanna's bank account and another $51,000 from his cigarette and candy business.
The Albannas' nephew, Jaber Elbaneh, an alleged member of the Lackawanna cell, was last reported at large in Yemen, according to U.S. officials.
Six other men from Lackawanna, all Yemeni-American men in their 20s, were arrested in September and charged with providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization. Prosecutors say they visited an al-Qaida training camp in Afghanistan in spring 2001 attended by Osama bin Laden.
Mohamed Albanna has been the face of the Lackawanna Yemeni community and an outspoken advocate for the men since they were arrested in September. He has attended every hearing and proclaimed their innocence.
``It's very disappointing to me. The gentleman has portrayed himself on local TV shows and around the nation as a community activist,'' Lackawanna Mayor John Kuryak said hours before Albanna's arrest.
The alleged leader of the Lackawanna cell, Yemeni-American Kamal Derwish, was believed killed in a CIA airstrike on Nov. 3 in Yemen, U.S. officials have said.
The six men now in custody could get up to 15 years in prison if convicted under a 1996 law that prohibits giving support to foreign terrorist organizations.
Here is the link to the Buffalo News:
3 in custody as raids focus on money trail to Yemen
It turns out the Mohamed Albanna was aquited of arson of his business in 1992 by the testimony of his cousin, Ali Taher Elbaneh, who was also arrested.
The news also reported that there have been a series of arsons at Muslim businesses. (Are they collecting insurance money to fund terrorism?)
The report also showed Mohamed Albanna being interviewed over the years, since the 1992 arson investigation.
EVERY time this guy is on camera, he gives this gushing testimony about how America is a great country. Seeing all the segements together made it clear to me that this guy is well trained in saying the right things to distract attention from what he and others are really doing here.
This is the Muslim fifth column.
It was not a secret that Moslems hate and resent the west. For years our stupid leaders ignored that FACT!!! Now these losers are all over Europe, and America, plotting constantly to harm us. We should kick them ALL out, the good and the bad. We will not be making a big mistake, since the good are very few.
Curius though, can someone send an international wire without having a license?
When does one need a license in order to send an international wire?
Does whether it is a coproration or an individual sending it matter?
If one sends an international wire via a company like Western Union, or a bank is one breaking the law?
He lied. Its very common when you are trying to hide the fact that you are a TERRORIST.
...All three were indicted by a federal grand jury on a charge they sent more than $480,000 to Yemen...
...the men sent the money out of the country between October and December. He said Mohamed Albanna has been transferring money illegally for two to three years.
...The Albannas' nephew, Jaber Elbaneh, an alleged member of the Lackawanna cell, was last reported at large in Yemen...
...The alleged leader of the Lackawanna cell, Yemeni-American Kamal Derwish, was believed killed in a CIA airstrike on Nov. 3 in Yemen....
Yep. I think there are a few dots here!
Gotta agree with philosofy123, our society would be much better off without these people in our midst. I get the feeling we are being played like a cheap accordian. Oh well, there goes my political career too - so be it!
here in Rochester we're just waiting... large Muslim community, easy access to Toronto via Lake Ontario...
stay safe!
benson_carter
I live with in a short distance fron this community..it is as we say "over the bridge"..Many of the more successful have purchased large homes a walking distance from me..We shop at the same stores ..in fact a friend takes pictures at their weddings and does their passport pic..I cared for many in a local hospital. These people are not "strange" to me..
They are distant, withdrawn and secretive ..they always have been..so none of this really surprises me
The area where the arrests were made is very poor..so this amount of money is amazing..
I was at a Target a few weeks ago..a young pregnant arab girl was in line with me..we did woman/baby small talk for a bit..what name did she plan for her little girl? Summer..LOL a real normal American name..They are such a puzzle to me..but I do not trust the men
Radical Islam is an insane murder cult, "moderate" Islam is its Trojan Horse in the West.
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