DAR AL HARB - U.S.A. - N.Y.: CONVICTIONS OF TERROR SUPPORTERS UPHELD

Judge rejects new trial for leaders of Albany, N.Y. mosque convicted of supporting terrorism

ALBANY, New York: A federal judge has refused to grant a new trial for two leaders of a mosque convicted of conspiring to support terrorism through money laundering in what turned out to be an FBI undercover operation.

In a 61-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Thomas McAvoy refused to throw out the Oct. 10 convictions of Yassin Aref, who was imam at the mosque, and Mohammed Hossain, a pizzeria owner who was a founder of the mosque, Masjid as-Salam. Both men are in jail awaiting sentencing March 8.

The nature of the transactions — where an FBI informant gave Hossain cash and got checks in return, with Aref acting as notary to witness the transaction — "render hollow" defense arguments that it was a legitimate business loan, according to McAvoy.

"There was ample evidence from which the jury could have inferred that Hossain entered into the money laundering scheme with full awareness of its illegality and the need for secrecy to allow the scheme to continue," McAvoy wrote. The transactions spanned eight months. The trial lasted four weeks.

FBI tapes showed informant Shahed Hussain, a Pakistani emigre businessman, telling the Albany men a few times that he sometimes imported arms and ammunition and mentioning that a shoulder-fired missile would be used by Muslim extremists against a Pakistani diplomat in New York City.

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I cannot find the actual 61 page document mentioned in the article, just the original filing.


Pertinent Links:

1) Judge rejects new trial for leaders of Albany, N.Y. mosque convicted of supporting terrorism

2) U.S. v Yassin Muhiddin Aref & Mohammed Mosharref Hossain