Mohammed Mosharref Hossain is the proprietor of an Albany New York pizza parlour, and a founder of the Masjid As-Salam mosque in Albany,[1] who was arrested by Federal authorities on August 6, 2004, as part of a counter-terrorism sting.[1] Hossain and an associate, Yassin M. Aref, were convicted of conspiring to aid a terrorist group, supporting a foreign terrorist organization, and money-laundering, and sentenced to 15 years in jail.[2] In July 2008 the appellate court upheld the convictions, rejecting all of the defense's arguments.
Mohammed Mosharref Hossain | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Occupation(s) | Proprietor of an Albany New York pizza parlour; Founder of the Masjid As-Salam mosque in Albany, NY |
| Conviction(s) | Guilty |
| Criminal charge | Conspiring to aid a terrorist group and provide support for a weapon of mass destruction, as well as money-laundering and supporting a foreign terrorist organization, Jaish-e-Mohammed. |
| Penalty | 15 years in prison |
Hossain was born in Bangladesh.[2]
The Albany Times Union reports that US forces found Aref's name, address, and phone number in a notebook found in a bombed out Iraqi encampment.[1]
The FBI sent an informer to make contact with Aref through Hossain, to try to get them to participate in an illegal arms deal.
The Times Union reported that their lawyers filed motions to learn whether the pair were subjected to warrantless surveillance by the NSA. Normally the NSA is not authorized to conduct electronic surveillance of Americans, only foreign nationals.[1] However, in December 2005, the New York Times revealed that President Bush had taken the controversial step of secretly authorizing the NSA to expand its surveillance to within the United States. Bush claimed that the US Constitution empowered him to authorize warrantless wiretaps when the US Congress granted him the authority to use force in Iraq.[3]
According to their lawyers, if it is determined that President Bush's authorization of warrantless wiretaps were unconstitutional, and Aref had been investigated through warrantless wiretaps, the prosecution's case would be "jeopardized".[1]
A grand jury indicted Hossain and Aref on October 1, 2005. He was convicted of conspiring to aid a terrorist group, supporting a foreign terrorist organization, and money-laundering, and sentenced to 15 years in jail.[2]
In June 2020, Mohammed Hossain, who was imprisoned for nearly 15 years following his arrest for money laundering in a 2004 FBI militant operation, would leave federal jail early after a federal judge approved his legal appeal for early release.[3]
References
edit- ^ "Albany Mosque Leaders Caught in Terror Sting Convicted of Money Laundering". Fox News. Associated Press. October 11, 2006.
- ^ a b "Two Sentenced to Serve 15 Years in Prison for Terrorism Offenses". PR Newswire. March 8, 2006. Retrieved April 24, 2015.
- ^ "Mohammed Hossain, Albany pizza maker caught in FBI terror sting, can leave prison early". Times Union. 8 June 2020. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
- ^ a b c Suspects raise domestic spy issue: 2 Albany Muslim men accused in FBI sting seek information, Times Union, January 5, 2006
- ^ FBI’s Albany terror “sting” begins to unravel, World Socialist Web Site, August 19, 2004
- ^ Wiretaps never discussed with Congress, CNN, December 23, 2005
- ^ Grand Jury Indicts Two N.Y. Mosque Leaders, Fox News, October 1, 2005
- ^ Terror suspect wants own trial: Albany pizza shop owner says case against imam hurts his chance with jurors, Times Union, December 10, 2005