The Somali Imaam and two other arrested in San Diego....
Posted: Wed Nov 03, 2010 11:45 am
Three San Diego residents named in terrorism indictment
By Dana Littlefield
Originally published November 2, 2010 at 4:12 p.m., updated November 2, 2010 at 7:08 p.m.
SAN DIEGO — Three San Diego men have been charged with providing money to a Somali-based militia group described by U.S. authorities as a violent terrorist organization, according to a federal indictment unsealed Tuesday.
The men — Basaaly Saeed Moalin, Mohamed Mohamed Mohamud and Issa Doreh — face conspiracy charges related to their alleged involvement with the group, known as al-Shabaab, which has ties to al-Qaeda.
Moalin, 33, is accused of being in direct contact with one of al-Shabaab’s prominent military leaders in 2007 and 2008. He was arrested Sunday at Lindbergh Field shortly before he was scheduled to board a flight.
Federal agents arrested Mohamud, 38, and Doreh, 54, in San Diego the next day, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in San Diego.
Moalin appeared in federal court Tuesday morning and pleaded not guilty to charges that could send him to prison for life, if convicted. Doreh and Mohamud, who is also known as Mohamed Khadar, are expected to be arraigned Wednesday.
It is unclear whether these defendants have any connection to a group of 14 people, including former San Diego resident Jehad Serwan Mostafa, who were charged last year with providing funds and other aid to the terrorist group. The cases were filed in San Diego, Minnesota and Alabama.
When those indictments were unsealed in August, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said the charges represented “a deadly pipeline of money, material and manpower to al-Shabaab from cities across the United States.”
Mostafa, a U.S. citizen who grew up in San Diego, fled in 2005 and is believed to be in Somalia.
According to the National Counterterrorism Center, al-Shabaab is known for using violence and intimidation tactics — including assassinations, automatic weapons and suicide bombings — in its war against Somalia’s unstable federal government and those who support it.
The U.S. Department of State designated the group as a foreign terrorist organization in 2008.
In the most recent indictments, prosecutors contend that Aden Hashi Ayrow, one of al-Shabaab’s military leaders, requested several thousand dollars from Moalin in December 2007. Moalin then coordinated fundraising efforts and money transfers with his two co-defendants. Moalin also provided a house in Somalia, which authorities said was intended to be used to carry out several killings.
Ayrow called for foreign fighters to join al-Shabaab in a “holy war” against Ethiopian and other African forces in Somalia. Prosecutors allege that the men continued to transfer money from San Diego to Somalia to fund terrorist activities after Ayrow’s death on May 1, 2008.
According to the indictment, the men transferred $2,000 in February 2008, $3,000 in April, and $2,280 and $1,650 in separate transactions in July.
Moalin was advised that it was difficult to replace ammunition and that the cost of each rocket-propelled grenade was $270. He told an unnamed person on the phone that $5,000 would be sent to Somalia, according to the document.
Moalin, Mohamud and Doreh each face four counts: conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, conspiracy to kill in a foreign country and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.
Moalin faces an additional charge of providing material support to terrorists. A San Diego business directory lists Moalin’s employer as a taxi service.
Debra Hartman, spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in San Diego, declined to provide details about the defendants’ backgrounds Tuesday because two of them have not yet been arraigned in federal court. She said more information may be available after Moalin’s detention hearing, which is scheduled for Friday.
Staff writers Kristina Davis and Susan Shroder contributed to this report.
By Dana Littlefield
Originally published November 2, 2010 at 4:12 p.m., updated November 2, 2010 at 7:08 p.m.
SAN DIEGO — Three San Diego men have been charged with providing money to a Somali-based militia group described by U.S. authorities as a violent terrorist organization, according to a federal indictment unsealed Tuesday.
The men — Basaaly Saeed Moalin, Mohamed Mohamed Mohamud and Issa Doreh — face conspiracy charges related to their alleged involvement with the group, known as al-Shabaab, which has ties to al-Qaeda.
Moalin, 33, is accused of being in direct contact with one of al-Shabaab’s prominent military leaders in 2007 and 2008. He was arrested Sunday at Lindbergh Field shortly before he was scheduled to board a flight.
Federal agents arrested Mohamud, 38, and Doreh, 54, in San Diego the next day, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in San Diego.
Moalin appeared in federal court Tuesday morning and pleaded not guilty to charges that could send him to prison for life, if convicted. Doreh and Mohamud, who is also known as Mohamed Khadar, are expected to be arraigned Wednesday.
It is unclear whether these defendants have any connection to a group of 14 people, including former San Diego resident Jehad Serwan Mostafa, who were charged last year with providing funds and other aid to the terrorist group. The cases were filed in San Diego, Minnesota and Alabama.
When those indictments were unsealed in August, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said the charges represented “a deadly pipeline of money, material and manpower to al-Shabaab from cities across the United States.”
Mostafa, a U.S. citizen who grew up in San Diego, fled in 2005 and is believed to be in Somalia.
According to the National Counterterrorism Center, al-Shabaab is known for using violence and intimidation tactics — including assassinations, automatic weapons and suicide bombings — in its war against Somalia’s unstable federal government and those who support it.
The U.S. Department of State designated the group as a foreign terrorist organization in 2008.
In the most recent indictments, prosecutors contend that Aden Hashi Ayrow, one of al-Shabaab’s military leaders, requested several thousand dollars from Moalin in December 2007. Moalin then coordinated fundraising efforts and money transfers with his two co-defendants. Moalin also provided a house in Somalia, which authorities said was intended to be used to carry out several killings.
Ayrow called for foreign fighters to join al-Shabaab in a “holy war” against Ethiopian and other African forces in Somalia. Prosecutors allege that the men continued to transfer money from San Diego to Somalia to fund terrorist activities after Ayrow’s death on May 1, 2008.
According to the indictment, the men transferred $2,000 in February 2008, $3,000 in April, and $2,280 and $1,650 in separate transactions in July.
Moalin was advised that it was difficult to replace ammunition and that the cost of each rocket-propelled grenade was $270. He told an unnamed person on the phone that $5,000 would be sent to Somalia, according to the document.
Moalin, Mohamud and Doreh each face four counts: conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists, conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, conspiracy to kill in a foreign country and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.
Moalin faces an additional charge of providing material support to terrorists. A San Diego business directory lists Moalin’s employer as a taxi service.
Debra Hartman, spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in San Diego, declined to provide details about the defendants’ backgrounds Tuesday because two of them have not yet been arraigned in federal court. She said more information may be available after Moalin’s detention hearing, which is scheduled for Friday.
Staff writers Kristina Davis and Susan Shroder contributed to this report.
