Thread: Three San Diego residents named in terrorism indictment

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 4:36 p.m.

SAN DIEGO — Three San Diego residents are charged with providing money to a Somali 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 several conspiracy charges related to their alleged involvement with the group, called al-Shabaab. Moalin, 33, is accused of being in direct contact with one of al-Shabaab’s a prominent military leaders in 2007 and 2008.

Moalin was arrested Sunday at Lindbergh Field shortly before he was to board a flight. Federal agents arrested Mohamud, 38, and Doreh, 54, the next day, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy.

Moalin appeared in federal court Tuesday morning and pleaded not guilty to charges that could send him to prison for life, if convicted. Mohamud, who is also known as Mohamed Khadar, and Doreh are expected to be arraigned Wednesday.

According to the indictment, al-Shabaab has used violence and a variety of intimidation tactics — including assassinations, automatic weapons and suicide bombings — in its war against Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government and those who support it. The U.S. Department of State designated the militia group as a foreign terrorist organization in February 2008.

Prosecutors contend that Aden Hashi Ayrow, one of al-Shabaab’s military leaders, asked for 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 a conspiracy to kill people.

Ayrow called for foreign fighters to join al-Shabaab in a “holy warâ€

When are we going to wise up and keep these people out of our country. I don't care if it is racial profiling. Police profile all of the time, not just race but actions.

We can't just "open the door" to mass numbers of people from countries that have proven track records of extremism and not investigate who they are before they are allowed to stay.

I do not agree with the practices that Washington is using to allow new immigrants in to this country. Call me a racist or nativist or any other word ,but I do not agree with the direction we are heading with the newer immigration population and many are here ILLEGALLY......

Are these guys just residents or are they citizens? Who performed the screening on these guys?

I see Washington can not do their jobs properly. How do you think they would handle and screen MILLIONS of illegal aliens,if given amnesty of some kind?

Department of Justice Press Release

For Immediate Release
November 2, 2010 United States Attorney's Office
Southern District of California
Contact: (619) 557-5610

Three California Men Charged with Conspiracy to Provide Material Support to al Shabaab

SAN DIEGO—San Diego residents Basaaly Saeed Moalin, Mohamed Mohamed Mohamud, aka Mohamed Khadar, and Issa Doreh were charged today with 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 related offenses, announced U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California Laura E. Duffy.

According to the indictment, handed up on October 22, 2010, and unsealed today, Moalin, Mohamud, and Doreh conspired to provide money to al Shabaab, a violent and brutal militia group in Somalia. In February 2008, the Department of State designated al Shabaab as a foreign terrorist organization. The indictment alleges that al Shabaab has used assassinations, improvised explosive devices, rockets, mortars, automatic weapons, suicide bombings, and other tactics of intimidation and violence to undermine Somalia’s transitional federal government and its supporters.

The indictment further alleges that, in late 2007 and early 2008, Moalin was in direct telephone contact with Aden Hashi Ayrow, who was a prominent military leader of al Shabaab. Ayrow requested money from Moalin, who then coordinated the fundraising efforts and money transfers with Mohamud and Doreh. According to the indictment, Moalin also provided a house in Somalia, knowing the house would be used in preparation for, and to carry out, a conspiracy to kill persons in a foreign country. The indictment alleges that after Ayrow’s death on May 1, 2008, the conspirators continued to transfer money from San Diego to Somalia to fund terrorist activities.

With the assistance of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, special agents of the FBI arrested Moalin on Oct. 31, 2010, at San Diego International Airport, shortly before Moalin was scheduled to board a flight. On November 1, 2010, agents arrested Mohamud and Doreh, also in San Diego.

On Nov. 2, 2010, U.S. Magistrate Judge William V. Gallo arraigned Moalin on the indictment and ordered him held without bail pending a detention hearing scheduled for Nov. 5, 2010. Mohamud and Doreh are expected to appear before Judge Gallo on Nov. 3, 2010, for arraignment.

According to U.S. Attorney Laura E. Duffy, the arrests arise from a lengthy investigation by the San Diego Joint Terrorism Task Force.

An indictment itself is not evidence that the defendants committed the crimes charged. The defendants are presumed innocent until the government meets its burden in court of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

FBI.gov is an official site of the U.S. Federal Government, U.S. Department of Justice.

http://sandiego.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pre ... 110210.htm