Kansas City Man Admits Aiding Al Qaeda
Khalid Ouazzani pleads guilty to terror charges in Missouri federal court.
May 19, 2010 — -- In another case involving terror-related activity by a U.S. citizen, a Kansas City, Missouri man has pleaded guilty to federal charges of sending more than $23,000 to individuals associated with Al Qaeda.
Khalid Ouazzani, a 32-year-old auto-parts store owner originally from Morocco, was arrested earlier this year, but his case was kept under seal until his guilty plea in a Western District of Missouri federal courtroom Wednesday. According to DOJ officials and to court documents filed in the case, Ouazzani sold his U.S. business, Truman Auto Parts, and an apartment he owned in the United Arab Emirates and sent the proceeds to Al Qaeda-connected individuals outside the U.S during 2007.
Ouazzani purchased the apartment in 2007 after obtaining a fraudulent loan for $175,000. He sold the residence for a profit of $17,000, according to court records. Ouazzani also pleaded guilty to money laundering and bank fraud for obtaining the loan with fraudulent information.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE CHARGES AGAINST OUAZZANI
The funds were sent from a Bank of America account to an account of an unidentified co-conspirator in United Arab Emirates. Ouazzani also admitted in his guilty plea that he pledged allegiance to Al Qaeda through one of his co-conspirators in June 2008 after he had sent the funds overseas.
According to the criminal complaint filed by prosecutors, "It was a part of the conspiracy that Ouazzani and co-conspirators would and did discuss various specific ways they could support Al Qaeda, including providing currency, advice and assistance to Al Qaeda, such assistance including fighting in Afghanistan, Iraq or Somalia at the request of Al Qaeda."
Contacted by ABC News, Robin Fowler, an attorney representing Mr. Ouazzani, said in a statement, "By his actions today Mr. Ouazzani has acknowledged the wrongfulness of his acts, and has accepted responsibility for his conduct. He deeply regrets what he has done, and is taking steps to atone, to the extent he can, for his crimes. He will continue to do so."
Fowler declined to comment further. "As this case moves forward," said Fowler, "there will be an appropriate time and place to make further comments about Mr. Ouazzani, and this case; but those remarks will come at a later date, and in a different forum."
In a statement, Beth Phillips, US Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, said, "Federal prosecutions not only result in long prison sentences, but yield valuable intelligence that can be used in the fight against Al-Qaida and other terrorist organizations."
Ouazzani could face 30 years to life in prison when sentenced.
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