Three Muslims Indicted for Exporting Military Equipment and Secrets
Jim Kouri, CPP
September 09, 2006
Three Islamic men were indicted on Friday by a federal grand jury in Fresno, California, for illegally exporting sensitive military equipment -- including body armor and chemical protective suits -- to Yemen, as well as dealing in US government secrets.
Amen Ahmed Ali, 56, of Bakersfield, also known as Ali Amin Alrowhani, Amin Al Rohany or Ameen Alrohany, and his two associates, Mohamed Al-Rahimi, 62, of Bakersfield, and Ibrahim A. Omer, 40, of Fort Worth, Texas, are charged with exporting stolen sensitive military equipment to Yemen. In addition, Ali is charged with acquiring and transmitting secret defense information obtained from a government undercover agent.
The charges are the result of a long-term and ongoing investigation by the Joint Terrorism Task Force, including the Justice Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Homeland Security Department's Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Bakersfield, CA Police Department, and the Kern County, CA Sheriff's Office.
According to the indictment, on numerous occasions, between June 25, 2005 and August 31, 2006, Ali received secret defense documents from a government undercover agent. He then allegedly transmitted them, both by fax and courier, to the Republic of Yemen.
In addition, Ali is charged with conspiring with Omer to ship military items to Yemen. The indictment alleges that between January 13, 2003 and February 14, 2004, Ali and Omer violated the Arms Export Control Act and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations by shipping military equipment, including body armor and chemical protective suits. These items cannot be legally exported from the United States without authorization from the State Department.
Ali is also charged with conspiring with Al-Rahimi to receive stolen government property which was also sent to Yemen. The indictment alleges that Ali purchased military equipment he believed had been stolen from the United States Army and directed it to be shipped to Yemen. It is alleged that Al-Rahimi traveled to Yemen to broker the sale of the items,
Agents with the Joint Terrorism Task Force or JTTF, aided by personnel from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the United States Probation Office, executed search warrants and arrested Ali and Omer. Ali was arrested in Bakersfield and will appear before a United States Magistrate in Bakersfield. Omer was taken into custody in Bossier City, Louisiana, and will make his first court appearance in Shreveport, Louisiana. Al-Rahimi remains at large. (Anyone having information regarding his whereabouts is urged to call the Bakersfield Resident Office of the FBI at (661) 323-9665.)
"We will use all appropriate legal means at our disposal to detect, disrupt, and hold accountable those who seek to do us harm, whether they act within or outside our borders," said United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott.
"In this instance, the FBI and the Bakersfield JTTF, including the Bakersfield Police Department and the Kern County Sheriff's Department have, along with ICE, worked over an extended period of time to bring this investigation to today's juncture," said Drew S. Parenti, special agent in charge of the FBI Sacramento Field Division.
"The JTTF will continue to work cooperatively to prevent any threat to this country's resources," he said.
The suspects face at least 10 years in prison without the possibility of parole, according to federal guidelines.
Amen Ahmed Ali, 56, of Bakersfield, also known as Ali Amin Alrowhani, Amin Al Rohany or Ameen Alrohany, and his two associates, Mohamed Al-Rahimi, 62, of Bakersfield, and Ibrahim A. Omer, 40, of Fort Worth, Texas, are charged with exporting stolen sensitive military equipment to Yemen. In addition, Ali is charged with acquiring and transmitting secret defense information obtained from a government undercover agent.
The charges are the result of a long-term and ongoing investigation by the Joint Terrorism Task Force, including the Justice Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Homeland Security Department's Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Bakersfield, CA Police Department, and the Kern County, CA Sheriff's Office.
According to the indictment, on numerous occasions, between June 25, 2005 and August 31, 2006, Ali received secret defense documents from a government undercover agent. He then allegedly transmitted them, both by fax and courier, to the Republic of Yemen.
In addition, Ali is charged with conspiring with Omer to ship military items to Yemen. The indictment alleges that between January 13, 2003 and February 14, 2004, Ali and Omer violated the Arms Export Control Act and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations by shipping military equipment, including body armor and chemical protective suits. These items cannot be legally exported from the United States without authorization from the State Department.
Ali is also charged with conspiring with Al-Rahimi to receive stolen government property which was also sent to Yemen. The indictment alleges that Ali purchased military equipment he believed had been stolen from the United States Army and directed it to be shipped to Yemen. It is alleged that Al-Rahimi traveled to Yemen to broker the sale of the items,
Agents with the Joint Terrorism Task Force or JTTF, aided by personnel from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the United States Probation Office, executed search warrants and arrested Ali and Omer. Ali was arrested in Bakersfield and will appear before a United States Magistrate in Bakersfield. Omer was taken into custody in Bossier City, Louisiana, and will make his first court appearance in Shreveport, Louisiana. Al-Rahimi remains at large. (Anyone having information regarding his whereabouts is urged to call the Bakersfield Resident Office of the FBI at (661) 323-9665.)
"We will use all appropriate legal means at our disposal to detect, disrupt, and hold accountable those who seek to do us harm, whether they act within or outside our borders," said United States Attorney McGregor W. Scott.
"In this instance, the FBI and the Bakersfield JTTF, including the Bakersfield Police Department and the Kern County Sheriff's Department have, along with ICE, worked over an extended period of time to bring this investigation to today's juncture," said Drew S. Parenti, special agent in charge of the FBI Sacramento Field Division.
"The JTTF will continue to work cooperatively to prevent any threat to this country's resources," he said.
The suspects face at least 10 years in prison without the possibility of parole, according to federal guidelines.
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