Copyright © 2011 Vanguard of Freedom
A trial for U.S. Citizen Tarek Mehanna began today in Boston. Mehanna is charged with conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.
FBI documents disclose that Mahenna was also indicted for providing and conspiring to provide material support to terrorists, conspiracy to kill in a foreign country, conspiracy to provide false information to law enforcement, and a number of separate counts of false statements to law enforcement.
Indictments allege that "...beginning on or about 2001 and continuing until on or about the date of the return of the superseding indictment, MEHANNA conspired with ... others, to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, namely al Qaeda, by agreeing with ... co-conspirators to provide personnel, expert advice and assistance, services, and other assistance."
Mehanna is alleged to have ...committed numerous overt acts that...(he)... believed would further...(his)... objective to provide material support to al Qaeda.
MEHANNA was previously indicted in January 2009 for making false statements to members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in connection with a terrorism investigation. On October 21, 2009, he was arrested on a Criminal Complaint and on November 5, 2009, he was charged in a superseding indictment and as of June 17, 2010 was being detained based on an order from the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts. Mahenna is still in custody.
Mahenna was indicted along with Ahmad Abousamra, who has since fled and is believed to be living in Syria. If convicted on the material support charges, MEHANNA and ABOUSAMRA each face up to 15 years’ imprisonment, to be followed by supervised release for any term of years up to life and a $250,000 fine, on each of two counts. If convicted of conspiracy to kill in a foreign country, MEHANNA and ABOUSAMRA each face up to life imprisonment, to be followed by supervised release for any term of years up to life.
Two of the false statement counts alleged against MEHANNA and one alleged against ABOUSAMRA concern false statements in connection with a terrorism investigation; on those counts, the defendants face a maximum of eight years' imprisonment, to be followed by three years’ supervised release and a $250,000 fine on each count. The remaining false statement counts and the conspiracy to provide false information, each carry up to five years’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
Mehhanna's attorneys argue that Mehanna's actions are protected as free speech under the first ammendment of the Constitution, and that Mahenna is being prosecuted unjustly.
Vanguard of Freedom Network / Patriot Action Network / Liberty News Network
he's one of the bad guys..?
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