ROME, GA - MOHAMED SHORBAGI, 42, of the Rome, Georgia, area has pleaded guilty in federal district court to providing material support to HAMAS, a designated foreign terrorist organization. The criminal information and plea agreement, which were filed on August 28, 2006, had been sealed until today, as was the plea hearing.

"There are two important points to make about this case," said United States Attorney David E. Nahmias. "First, this case illustrates that people who illegally support foreign terrorist organizations may be found anywhere in the United States, even in quiet and pleasant places like Rome, Georgia. Second, we will use every lawful tool to ferret out terrorism and those who provide material support to it, regardless of where they live or how they try to hide their criminal activities."

Nahmias noted that HAMAS is a terrorist organization operating primarily in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, which has engaged in numerous terrorist attacks aimed at Israeli military personnel, police officers, and civilians. HAMAS attacks have murdered numerous innocent people, including American citizens, and have undermined the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Federal law makes it a serious felony to provide any material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization.

Kenneth A. Smith, Special Agent in Charge, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), said, "This joint investigation has exemplified what can be accomplished through persistence and interagency cooperation. The investigation highlights the Department of Homeland Security's goal to identify, investigate and disrupt national security threats and financial avenues being utilized in support of terrorist organizations. I believe that a strong message has been sent that we will not tolerate those individuals in the United States who provide funds for terrorist interests abroad."

Gregory Jones, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, said, "The FBI is committed to working with our partners here and abroad to investigate and disrupt the activities of those who provide funding and other support to terrorist groups. It is very disturbing to see people in the United States who are so willing to offer their assistance to known terrorist organizations, and this case should remind us all of the continued need to be vigilant."

According to United States Attorney Nahmias and the information presented in court: On October 8, 1997, the United States formally designated HAMAS as a foreign terrorist organization. After that date, and continuing until December 4, 2001, SHORBAGI provided financial support to HAMAS and conspired with unnamed others to provide such material support. He did so knowing that HAMAS had been designated as a foreign terrorist organization and that HAMAS engaged in terrorist activity. SHORBAGI provided the support through donations to the "Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development" (HLF), knowing that some or all of the money was in fact destined for HAMAS. SHORBAGI knew that money provided to HLF was actually funneled to HAMAS in part because he was a Georgia representative for HLF and he had attended HLF meetings at which high-level HAMAS officials made presentations condemning Israel. SHORBAGI also had hosted high-level HAMAS officials at the Rome, Georgia mosque at which he served as Imam.

SHORBAGI was charged in a Criminal Information on August 28, 2006, with one count of providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization. That charge carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

SHORBAGI has entered a plea agreement in which he agrees that, under the federal sentencing guidelines, he would be sentenced to the statutory maximum of 15 years in prison. Pursuant to the plea agreement, SHORBAGI has agreed to cooperate fully and truthfully with the Government. If the Government determines that such cooperation substantially assists in the investigation or prosecution of other persons, it will file a motion asking the court to reduce SHORBAGI's sentence. SHORBAGI also agreed to pay full restitution to the victims of fraud crimes he had committed, which the Government agreed not to charge in consideration of his cooperation.

Sentencing is scheduled for November 3, 2006, at 1:30 p.m., before United States District Judge Harold L. Murphy.

This case is being investigated by Special Agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) with assistance from the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation and the Floyd County Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorney Kim Dammers is prosecuting the case.

The website address for ICE is www.ice.gov; FBI is www.fbi.gov and the website for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia is www.usdoj.gov/usao/gan.

WHERE IS ROME, GA? (red star marks the spot)

Documents released by prosecutors say Shorbagi lives in the Rome, Ga., area. The mosque where Shorbagi serves as imam, or prayer leader, looks more like a starter house than a house of worship. It has a swing set out back, a rotting wooden porch and an American flag waving from a balcony.

Neighbors said this is the first they had heard the house was being used as a mosque. Xiane Rock, an 18-year-old who lives two doors down, said she had seen cars outside the house before but never knew why they were there.

"I thought it was partying and drinking," she said. "I didn't know they were praying."She has lived on the quiet street just outside downtown Rome for five years."That's really scary" she said. "I didn't think it was happening here in a small town."

Georgia man pleads guilty to aiding Hamas; case handled in secret

GREG BLUESTEIN

Associated Press

ROME, Ga. - The imam of a north Georgia mosque pleaded guilty to providing material support to the militant group Hamas in a case in which the agreement, charges and even the plea hearing were handled in secret.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said Friday that the charges and plea agreement involving Mohamed Shorbagi were filed Aug. 28 in federal court in Rome, Ga., a division of Atlanta's federal court, but were sealed until Friday.

Shorbagi, 42, agreed to a maximum of 15 years in prison, prosecutors said. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Nov. 3.

According to prosecutors, between 1997 and 2001, Shorbagi provided financial support to Hamas, a group designated by the United States as a foreign terrorist organization. He also was accused of conspiring with unnamed others to provide material support to Hamas.

The donations were through Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, prosecutors said.

"It was not for a large amount of money," U.S. Attorney David Nahmias said. "But that goes to show you it doesn't take a large amount of money to get 15 years in prison."

He said the prison time could be reduced if Shorbagi cooperates, as he is expected to do. The prosecutor's office said the sentencing likely will be in Rome.

Nahmias' office said Shorbagi was a Georgia representative of Holy Land Foundation and knew money provided to the foundation was actually funneled to Hamas.

He had attended Holy Land Foundation meetings at which high-level Hamas officials made presentations condemning Israel, and hosted high-level Hamas officials at the Rome, Ga., mosque at which he served as Imam, prosecutors said.

Shorbagi's attorney, Michael Trost, said, "There are some mitigating factors and circumstances which would impact his participation in this matter, but right now is not the time and place to go into them. We will deal with all of that at the appropriate time, which will be sentencing."

Documents released by prosecutors say Shorbagi lives in the Rome, Ga., area.The mosque where Shorbagi serves as imam, or prayer leader, looks more like a starter house than a house of worship. It has a swing set out back, a rotting wooden porch and an American flag waving from a balcony.

Neighbors said this is the first they had heard the house was being used as a mosque.

Xiane Rock, an 18-year-old who lives two doors down, said she had seen cars outside the house before but never knew why they were there.

"I thought it was partying and drinking," she said. "I didn't know they were praying."She has lived on the quiet street just outside downtown Rome for five years."That's really scary" she said. "I didn't think it was happening here in a small town."

Nahmias said Shorbagi is a citizen of the Palestinian territory but is in U.S. legally.

Nahmias' office said prosecutors did not have to invoke the Patriot Act in imposing secrecy on the proceedings, and that U.S. District Judge Harold Murphy in Rome agreed to the seal. Officials said it's similar to procedures used in high-level drug cases.

"A lot of it has been kept very quiet due to Shorbagi's association," Nahmias said.

Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development was shut down in 2001 after the government accused it of funneling more than $12 million to Hamas. Several people connected to the group were charged.

Hamas gained control of the Palestinian Authority after winning elections in January. Israel and Western donors have cut hundreds of millions of dollars in transfers to the authority, demanding that Hamas renounce violence, recognize Israel and accept past Israeli-Palestinian agreements. Hamas has rejected the demands.

http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/news/local/15750981.htm

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