Feds: Hezbollah Cell in N.C.
C H A R L O T T E, N.C., March 28 -- A Hezbollah "cell" in Charlotteprovided material support and resources, including cash andequipment, to the Islamic militant group Hezbollah, federalprosecutors alleged today.
An indictment handed down by a federal grand jury charged fourpeople with conspiring to provide the Lebanon-based group withcash, night vision goggles, global positioning devices, minedetection equipment, cell phones and blasting equipment.
The indictment does not allege that they provided weapons.
"We hope to send a clear message that North Carolina, theUnited States and Canada are off-limits for illegal funding andprocurement activities by individuals or organizations that supportterrorism," said Chris Swecker, special agent in charge of theFBI's Charlotte office.
Last summer, the same grand jury indicted 18 people on chargesof cigarette smuggling, money laundering and immigrationviolations. Six have pleaded guilty to immigration law violationsand charges are pending against the remaining 12.
The indictment handed down Wednesday names six new defendants,none of whom is in custody. Three are accused of aiding Hezbollahand the other three face charges including cigarette smuggling andmoney laundering.
Profits from Cigarette Sales?
The three accused of helping Hezbollah were identified as AliAdham Amhaz and Mohamad Hassan Dbouk, last reported to be living inVancouver, and Hassan Hilu Laqis, whose last address was unknown.
The fourth man, Said Mohamad Harb, is among the group charged inJuly and has been held without bond in federal custody since then.
The government contends that Mohamad Youssef Hammoud, named inthe original indictment, led a Charlotte-based group of Lebaneseimmigrants who bought cases of cigarettes in North Carolina, whichhas a low cigarette tax, and sold them at a profit in other states.
Prosecutors said the group diverted some of its profits toHezbollah, a Lebanese-based faction that has been named by the U.S.State Department as a terrorist organization.
