Jury Convicts Pakistani Citizen of Conspiring to Support the Taliban and Unlawful Possession of ...

Jury Convicts Pakistani Citizen of Conspiring to Support the Taliban and Unlawful Possession of Firearms

HOUSTON—After a three-day trial, a federal jury has convicted Adnan Mirza, 33, of all nine counts in an indictment arising from his efforts to provide support and funds to the Taliban, U.S. Attorney José Angel Moreno announced. Mirza, a citizen of Pakistan, had entered the United States on a student visa and was attending a local community college in 2005 and 2006 when he committed the offenses for which he was convicted.

The jury returned its verdicts Thursday night, finding Mirza guilty of conspiracy to unlawfully possess firearms, conspiracy to provide funds to the Taliban and all seven counts of unlawful possession by an alien of firearms and ammunition. U.S.District Judge Ewing Werlein, who presided over the trial, has set sentencing for Sept. 10, 2010. Mirza faces a maximum of five years imprisonment for each of the two conspiracy convictions as well as fines of up to $250,000. Each of the five unlawful possession of firearms or ammunition by an alien carries a maximum fine of $250,000 and a term of confinement of not more than 10 years. Mirza has been in federal custody without bond since his arrest and will remain in custody pending his sentencing hearing.

During the trial, the government presented evidence that proved Mirza, a foreign national who had entered the United States on a student visa, is not permitted by federal law to possess firearms while in this country. Through an FBI undercover investigation, the evidence also proved Mirza and others engaged in weekend camping/training and practice sessions with firearms on six different occasions beginning in May 2006 at a location on the north side of Houston to prepare for Jihad. Evidence also proved Mirza and the others intended to send funds to the Taliban.

The investigation leading to the charges against Mirza and others was conducted by the Houston office of the FBI with the assistance of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Deputy Criminal Chief Glenn Cook and Assistant U.S. Attorney James McAlister prosecuted the case for the United States.

Previously...

August 7, 2009

Note: The following text is a quote:

http://houston.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel09/ho080709.htm

U.S. Citizen Taliban Supporter Sentenced to Prison
Kobie Williams Tells Court Actions Were Inconsistent with Muslim Faith

HOUSTON—Kobie Diallo Willaims, 36, convicted of conspiring to unlawfully possess firearms by an alien and supporting the Taliban, has been sentenced to prison, United States Attorney Tim Johnson, FBI Houston Division Special Agent in Charge Richard C. Powers and David Kris, Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, announced today.

At a hearing today before U.S. District Judge Ewing Werlein Jr., Williams, a U.S. citizen and resident of Houston, was sentenced to 54 months imprisonment without parole and fined $5,000. Williams pleaded guilty in November 2006 to conspiring with several foreign nationals, some of whom had entered the U.S. on student visas, to engage in paramilitary training with weapons that Williams supplied in preparation to join the Taliban. Under federal law, foreign nationals are not permitted to possess firearms. Today, the court found that Williams’ conduct was subject to the terrorism adjustment of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines as his conduct was intended to retaliate against the United States government.

“The security of our nation depends upon our continued vigilance,” said Johnson. “Today’s sentence reflects our determination to justly punish those who support terrorist organizations determined to destroy our nation and way of life.”

Through an undercover investigation, the FBI obtained evidence - including recorded conversations - beginning in May 2005 that Williams and others traveled to various locations within the Southern District of Texas for scheduled weekends of camping/training to prepare to support the Taliban. Williams and the others met on at least six occasions from May 2005 through June 2006 to engage in paramilitary exercises with firearms, including target and sniper training and to discuss plans to join the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Additionally, the investigation produced evidence—and Williams has admitted to—contributing several hundred dollars to support the Taliban—a designated global terrorist organization by the United States—in its efforts against the U.S. military.

“This case is another example of the FBI Houston Division’s commitment to identifying persons within our communities who would conspire to commit acts of terror either at home or abroad,” Powers said. “We will remain vigilant in our efforts to protect our citizens from terrorist acts.”

In determining and handing down the sentence, the court accepted as sincere Williams’ open court apology for his actions, that William’s convictions had changed based upon his representation that his actions were inconsistent with the Muslim faith and considered a number of letters from the community on Williams’ behalf.

Williams has been in custody since his November 2006 arrest and will remain in custody to serve his sentence.

Co-defendant, Adnan Mirza, a foreign national who entered the United States on a student visa, was charged along with Williams for his alleged involvement in this conspiracy and for unlawfully possessing a firearm is pending trial Oct. 5, 2009.

Case was investigated by FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force with the assistance of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Glenn Cook, Shelley Hicks, James McAlister and Trial Attorney Jennifer Smith of the Department of Justice’s Counterterrorism Section.

October 22, 2010

NOTE The following text is a quote:

http://houston.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel10/ho102210.htm

Pakistani Student Sentenced to Prison for Conspiring to Support the Taliban and Unlawful Possession of Firearms

HOUSTON—A Pakistani national who entered the United States on a student visa has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison without parole for unlawfully possessing firearms and conspiring to provide material support to the Taliban, United States Attorney José Angel Moreno and FBI Special Agent in Charge Richard C. Powers announced today.

Adan Mirza, 33, convicted in May 2010 following a jury trial of all nine counts charged, was sentenced today by Senior U.S. District Judge Ewing Werlein to a total of 180 months’ imprisonment without parole. Judge Werlein sentenced Mirza to the maximum applicable prison term for each of the nine counts of conviction - five years’ imprisonment for each of the two conspiracy convictions (conspiracy to unlawfully possess firearms and conspiracy to provide material support and funds to the Taliban) which are to be served concurrently - to be followed by the maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment for each of the seven counts of unlawful possession of firearms/ammunition convictions which are also to be served concurrently. Mirza has also been fined $1,000 for each of the nine counts of conviction for a total of $9,000.

As a foreign national who had entered the United States on a student visa to attend a local community college in 2005 and 2006, Mirza is not permitted by federal law to possess firearms while in the United States. An FBI undercover investigation resulted in proof that Mirza and others intended to send funds to the Taliban and had engaged in weekend camping/training and practice sessions with firearms to prepare for “jihad” on six different occasions beginning in May 2006 at a location on the north side of Houston.

In handing down the sentence, the court granted a request by the United States to increase the applicable sentencing guideline range by applying the terrorism enhancement under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, finding that Mirza’s criminal conduct made the enhancement appropriate and applicable. Additionally, the court’s order that the sentences imposed on various counts are to be served consecutively results in a total term of imprisonment which exceeds the statutory maximum penalty for any single count of conviction.

The investigation leading to the charges against Mirza and others was conducted by the Houston office of the FBI with the assistance of Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Deputy Criminal Chief Glenn Cook and Assistant U.S. Attorney James McAlister prosecuted the case for the United States.

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