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Militant Islam Monitor > Articles > Jihad camp Imam Mazen Mokhtar jailed for tax fraud -ran Al Qaeda mirror sites tied to UK Heathrow bomb plotter Babar Ahmed

Jihad camp Imam Mazen Mokhtar jailed for tax fraud -ran Al Qaeda mirror sites tied to UK Heathrow bomb plotter Babar Ahmed

May 11, 2007

http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-6/117747637445640.xml&coll=1

N.J. Muslim suspected of terror ties is accused of tax fraud

Wednesday, April 25, 2007 BY JEFF WHELANStar-Ledger Staff

A North Brunswick man under investigation for operating Web sites that allegedly aided the Tali ban and other terrorists was arrested yesterday after a federal grand jury indicted him on tax fraud charges.

Mazen Mokhtar, a spiritual leader in New Jersey's Muslim community, filed fraudulent personal tax returns and failed to file business tax returns for his computer consulting company, Mindcraft Inc., according to the five- count indictment.

Mokhtar, a 38-year-old, Egyptian-born American citizen, was arrested yesterday by FBI and IRS agents who searched his North Brunswick home. Federal agents in New York and Connecticut assisted in the investigation, according to authorities.

Mokhtar's name previously surfaced in a broader investigation into a suspected terrorist network based in Britain.

Three years ago, federal investigators in Connecticut said a Web site administered by a New Jersey resident was used in a conspiracy to solicit funds and recruit fighters for the Taliban and the Chechen mujahadeen. At the time, Mokhtar acknowledged he was the suspect in question, but denied the charges.

U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie's office, which is prosecuting Mokhtar on the tax charges, declined to comment on any ties between those allegations and the Connecticut investigation.

Tom Carson, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Connecticut, declined to comment on Mokhtar, but said yesterday that the terrorism investigation continues.

Mokhtar, bearded, bespectacled and wearing blue jeans, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Esther Salas in Newark yesterday afternoon. He was handcuffed and shackled at his ankles. He smiled at his wife, who sat in the back of the courtroom.

Under questioning, the defendant told the judge he did not have weapons in his home, but didn't speak otherwise. He was released on a $100,000 secured bond.

Abed Awad, the defendant's at torney, declined to comment.

Federal investigators arrested a man named Baba Ahmad in Lon don three years ago, saying he operated a Web site that called on Muslims to engage in violent acts as part of a jihad. The site gave instructions on how to donate to terror groups and obtain visas to travel to Afghanistan to fight for the Taliban.

After the 9/11 attacks, Ahmad's Web site was shut down, but he allegedly continued to operate it through "mirror sites," including two maintained by Mokhtar.

Ahmad is in Britain fighting ex tradition to the U.S. Last month a U.S. sailor was charged in the case. Authorities say he sent an e-mail to Ahmad disclosing the whereabouts and vulnerabilities of the destroyer on which he served.

Mokhtar's alleged ties to the plot surprised New Jersey Muslims, who described him as an outspo ken activist on Palestinian issues and spiritual adviser and teacher to young Muslims who often led pray ers and delivered speeches around the region.

Yaser ElMenshawy, chairman of the New Jersey Council of Mosques and Islamic Organizations, said yesterday that he remains skeptical of the terrorism allegations against Mokhtar.

"It seems to be a pattern. If federal authorities think you are somehow involved in wrongdoing, they will look around until they can pin something," he said. "The question is, is he or is he not guilty of the charge of being somehow affiliated with terrorism? Because if he's not, it may be they are stretching things just to get him in some way."

Michael Drewniak, a spokesman for Christie, said people can't "ig nore their tax obligations and not expect there to be consequences, including criminal prosecution."

Mokhtar faces up to 11 years in prison on the tax charges, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney An drew Kogan. The offenses spanned from 2000 to 2004.

Staff writer Jeff Diamant contributed to this report.

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N.B. business owner faces federal tax evasion charges
http://nbs.gmnews.com/news/2007/0426/Front_Page/043.html

NEWARK - A North Brunswick man was arrested Tuesday on an indictment charging him with failing to file tax returns and filing false tax returns, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.

The five-count indictment, returned April 12 under seal, charges Mazen Mokhtar, 38, with two counts of failing to file business tax returns and three counts of filing false personal tax returns. According to the indictment, Mokhtar was the president and sole shareholder of Mindcraft Inc., a computer consulting and technology company, for which he was required to file business tax returns.

The indictment alleges that for the tax years 2003 and 2004, Mokhtar failed to file Mindcraft's business tax returns. The indictment additionally alleges that for the tax years 2000, 2002 and 2003, Mokhtar filed fraudulent personal tax returns in that he failed to state the entire amount of income he received from Mindcraft.

Mokhtar was arrested at his home early that morning by special agents of the FBI and IRS.

The fraudulent personal tax return violations each carry a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a $100,000 fine. The charges of failing to file tax returns each carry a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.

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http://53rdand6th.com/runmsa/newsletter.php?letter_id=132&pageaction=browse


February 27 2007 | Safar 10 1428

............................................................................................................................................................................................................. Wednesday 2/28: "Does God Exist?" - Sh. Khalid Yasin

Topic: Does God Exist?
Speaker: Sh. Khalid Yasin
When: Wednesday Feb 28 @ 2:30PM (Free Period)
Where: NJIT. Ballroom B.


.............................................................................................................................................................................................................
Monday 3/5: "At the Gates of Paradise: Tour of Jannah" - Br. Mazen Mokhtar


Topic: Paradise: Brief Tour of Jannah
Speaker: Br. Mazen Mokhtar
When: Monday Mar 5 @ 11:30AM (Free Period)
Where: Robeson Campus Center. MPR West (RM. 231)



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