MILNET Brief
  Terrorist Cells and Lone Wolves in the U.S., 11/08/2006


Selected U.S. ICE Arms & Technology Cases



The following chart updates the memberships in terrorist cells in the U.S. which have been disclosed in public sources.  Note that several are clearly indentified with either Al Qaeda directly, while others are associated with terrorist groups which are known to receive training and/or financial or logistical support (weapons, explosives, etc.) from Al Qaeda.

U.S. Terrorist Cases

Hover mouse over folder for details on plot,  if hand shows up, click to see details


State
Name
Date
Affiliation/Detals
Lone Wolves
Captured Inbound
Zacarias Moussaoui
Indicted in December of 2001, Convicted in  2006, sentenced to life without parole.
Captured Inbound Richard Reid
Second Superceding Indictment, Convicted
Captured Inbound John Walker Lindh

Convicted
Captured Inbound Abdurahman Alamoudi (23 years)

Charities and money laundering schemes, tax evasion, fianancial transactions in Libya

Arrested at Dulles coming into the United States.
In October 2004 sentenced to 23 years
California
Adam Yehiye Gadahn

Charged with treason, providing material support to a terrorist organization, aiding and abetting.  Appeared in news releases for Al-Qaeda, the "voice of American Al-Qaeda".

Indicted, remains at large
Florida
Carlos Gamarra-Murillo

Charged with engaging in the business of brokering and exporting defense articles without a license and providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization (FARC).

Pled guilty in February of 2005
Convicted and sentenced to 25 years in August 2005
Florida
Guillermo Cardoso-Arias (46 months)

Charged with buying 200 AK-47s for the Autodefenseas Unidas de Colombia (AUC), a designated foreign terrorist organization in Colombia. He further stated that the weapons would be used to fight the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC), another designated foreign terrorist organization.

Sentenced to 46 months on April 1, 2005
Oregon
Ali Khaled Steitiye
Actually the "unindicted" member of the Portland Six/Seven

Lebanese - caught trying to purchase a gun in Beaverton, Oregon
Arrested by the Joint Terrorism Task Force in 2002, convicted of felony firearms possession and fraud, and sentenced to 30 months in prison.
New York
Hemant Lakhani a.k.a. Hekmat, a.k.a. Hemant

Attempted to supply an Igla missile to a Somali Terrorist (actually an FBI undercover operative posing as a go-between)
2001-2003
Conspiracy to receive for purposes of and the attempted export of an article of Defense Equipment (shoulder launched rocket) to be sent overseas to aid and support terrorism.
Indicted in 2003.
Sentenced to 47 years of federal imprisonment for the April 27, 2005
New York
Uzair Paracha

Charged with providing material support to al Qaeda...agreed with his father and two Al-Qaeda members to provide material support to al Qaeda...trying to help an al Qaeda member re-enter the United States to commit a terrorist act


Convicted on November of 2005
Sentenced to 30 years
Virginia
Ahmed Omar Abu Ali

Charged him with terrorism offenses, including providing material support and resources to al Qaeda, conspiracy to assassinate the President of the United States, conspiracy to commit air piracy and conspiracy to destroy aircraft

Convicted and sentenced in November of 2005, sentenced to 30 years
Virginia
Iyman Faris

Charged with providing material support and resources to al Qaeda and conspiracy for providing the terrorist organization with information about possible U.S. targets for attack

In October of 2003 he was convicted and sentenced to 20 years

Victor "the Devil" Infante

Charged with the attempted export of assault weapons, including MAC-11 submachine guns, MP-5s, HK-94s, Colt AR-15s, and Uzi Model Bs, to the Philippines. Philippine authorities contend that Infante supplied arms to the Abu Sayyaf terrorist organization

Charged in November of 2003
On September 20, 2004, pled guilty to drug related charges

Cells
California
Drugs for Weapons

Sale of drugs to finance purchase weapons (i.e. Stinger missiles) for Taliban and Al-Qaeda
? - 2002
Afridi and Ali were arrested in Hong Kong and extradited to the U.S. on September 20, 2002
Indicted on October 30, 2002
Convicted
Afrdi - April 2006, sentenced 57 months
Ali - April 2006, sentenced to 57 months
California Lodi Five

Hamid Hayat
Umer Hayat
Muhammed Adil Khan
Shabbir Ahmed
Mohammad Hassan Adil

Associated with former Afghan Mujadiheen fighters now aligned with Al Qaeda
06/2005
Hamid Hayat (convicted on 4 of 5 counts)
Umer Hayat (convicted: lieing to FBI, hung jury on terr charges)
Muhammed Adil Khan, Shabbir Ahmed, Mohammad Hassan Adil all deported on various immigration charges
California
L.A. Terror Conspiracy (L.A. Ex Cons)


Associated themselves with Militant Islamic Jihadists, no direct contacts to Al Qaeda or overseas terrorist group.
2005
Awaiting Trial
California Bakersfield Spy Ring


Associated with Yemeni terrorist cells however no direct contact to Al Qaeda operatives
2005
Awaiting Trial
Florida
Florida Arms Dealers


Charged with illegal export of weapons (80 AK-47 assault rifles, an M-60 machinegun, and an M-16) to the Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC) in Colombia, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization

On June 8, 2005 Correa pled guilty and two additional suspects were subsequently  arrested and convicted of arms control regulations.  A third suspect, Hector Rodriguez was also arrested.
Florida Tampa Cell

Sami Al-Arian (Kuwait born, Egyptian passport)
Ramadan Shallah (born in Gaza, Egyptian passport)
Bashir Nafi (Egyptian born, British passport)
Sameeh Hammoudeh (born West Bank, UK passport)
Muhammed Al-Khatieb (born Gaza,  student visa)
Abd Awda (Israeli born)
Ghassan Ballut (born West Bank, cond. resident alien)
Hatim Fariz (U.S. citizen)

Associated themselves with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad - Shiqaqi Faction and an unknown Iranian contact.  Also disclosed a desire to negotiate a relationship with Hamas.  Iran is disclosed as a strategic partner in the PIJ.  Also Fathi Shaqaqi of the PIJ disclosed a relationship with Hezbollah.
1988-2002
DOJ Statement
Used the University of Florida as a U.S. headquarters for PIJ with connections in Gaza and Iran. A number of the consprirators travelled freely in and out of the U.S. and communicated with conspirators in the U.S.  from places such as the U.K., Gaza, West Bank, Iran, and Syria.  In February 1992, four terrorists were caught after they had attacked an Israeli Army camp murdering three soldiers.  They proclaimed they were members of the PIJ.  They were Ibrahim Hassan Agbarya, Muhamid Saed Agbarya, Yiche Mustafa Agbarya, and Mohammed Taufik Sueliman. Four others executed a suicide attack near Hula near the border between Israel and Lebanon, killing two and injuring five.  Their wills were handled by indicted conspirators Al-Arian, Shallah, and Hammoudeh.  Six other members are disclosed in the indictment,  Abul Abed (possible Iranian contact), Hamed Yousef and Abu Tareq, and Sheik Sayyed, Fathi Shiqaqi, Abu Tarek Ziyad.  Also disclosed are the names Ziyad Nakhaleh (a.k.a. Abu Tarek) , Abu Mohamed, Abu Jihad, Muafaq (in the occupied territories), Hikmat Shalluh ( brother of conspirator Ramadan Shallah), Muhammad al-Hindy, Anwar Abdel Aziz, Abu Assaad,  Abu Nadal, Khaled Al-Arian, Abu Omar, Abu Muhanid, Ziyad Abu Amr, Fedaa Al-Najjar. Also includes banking transactions in overseas banks (U.A.E., Israel, Lebanon, Sudan, from U.S. banks and discussions of borrowing $250,000 to $500,000 from Hamas.
Michigan
Detroit Cell

Farouk Ali-Haimoud (born in Algeria) ACQUITTED
Ahmed Hannan (born in Morroco) - Conviction overturned
Karim Koubritti (born in Morroco) - Conviction overturned
Abdel Ilah Elmardoud - Conviction overturned
Abdella Lnu
Yousseff Hmimssa


1998-2001
Indicted in August of 2002
Abdel-Ilah Elmardoudi and Karim Koubriti were convicted of providing material support to terrorists and conspiring in fraud and misuse of visas and other documents, Ahmed Hannan convicted of document fraud
NOTE:  Serious questions arise in this case, from prosecutorial misconduct to in-fighting between Detroit prosecutors and the Dept. of Justice.  Some convictions were thrown out, however, evidence remains and it is not clear if the defendants were actually exonerated at this point.

Cover names disclosed in the case were Nassim Halili and Khaled Ali.
Michigan
Detroit Cell 2 - Cigarette Smuggling


Iman Hamomoud and Hassan Makki Ran a cigarette smuggling ring and sending funds to Hezbollah.  See North Carolina Cigarette Smuggling Ring.

Doj Statement on Indictment


New York
Bronx Cell


Directly associated themselves with Al Qaeda however it is not clear how much direct contact the cell had
1998-2005
Linked to Al Qaeda and attempts to attend training camps in Afghanistan and Pakistan in 1998
Awaiting trial
New York Lackawanna Six (a.k.a. Buffalo Six)


Traveled to Afghanistan and undertook Jihadist training in an Al Qaeda camp, then returned to the U.S.

Six U.S. born citizens travelled to Afghanistan to undertake Jihadist training in an Al Qaeda camp, then returned to the U.S.

First six were conficted, seventh still at large
"Yahya Goba and Mukhtar al-Bakri received ten-year prison sentences. Yaseinn Taher and Shafal Mosed received eight-year prison sentences. Sahim Alwan received a nine and a half year sentence"
- Wikipedia
New York Money Laundering

Rafil Dhafir
Osameh Al-Wahaidy
Ayman Jarwan

conspiracy to unlawfully send money to Iraq and money laundering
Feb 2005
Dhafir was sentenced to 22 years
New York
Aid to World Trade Center Bomber

Ahmed Abdel Sattar (24 months)
Lynne Stewart (28 months)
Mohammed Yousry (20 months)
Yassir Al-Sirri (awaiting extradition before sentencing)

Aid to Gama' al-Islamiyya and supporters of blind sheikh and convicted terrorist Omar Ahmed Ali Abdel Rahman

Indicted on
First three Convicted, but received very light sentences, DoJ appealing the sentencing.
New York
Al Qaeda and Hamas Support
Mohammad Ali Hasan Al-Moayad (75 years)
Mohammed Moshen Yahya Zayed (45 years)

Charged with providing and conspiring to provide material support and resources to al Qaeda and Hamas

Convicted in March of 2005
North
Carolina
Using Cigarette Smuggling to Fund Hezbollah

Mohammed Hammoud (155 years)
Chawki Hammoud (4+ years)
Angie Tsioumas (wife of Mohammed Hammoud)
Bassom Hammoud (46 months)
Said Harb (46 months)
Hammoud Darwiche (37 months)
Ali Darwhiche (37 months)
Sheik Abbas Harake (not in custody)
Mehdi Massoui (12 months)
Samir Debk (24 months)
Haissam Harb (24 months)

Aiding Hezbollah by use of illegal cigarette sales and sending funds to Hezbollah contact.

Mohammed and Chawki Hammoud convicted June 21, 2002
Cigarettes supplied to a Detroit cell (see Detroit Cell 2)

Mohammed Hammoud received a sentence of 155 years and Chawki was sentenced to just over 4 years.
Oregon
Portland Seven
Habis Abdulla al Saoub, the ring leader,  killed in Oct. 2004 during a Pakistani raid of an Al Qaeda camp
Patrice Lumumba Ford, (woman)
Jeffrey Leon Battle
Maher "Mike" Hawash, Palestinian-born  (7 years)
Ahmed Bilal, (10 years)
Muhammad Bilal, (8 years)
October Martinique Lewis (woman), (3 years wiring $)




2/10/2004
Cell in Portland, Oregon   indicted on charges of conspiracy against the U.S.
the Masjid As-Sabr in southwestern Portland and the Bilal mosque in nearby Beaverton, Ore.  Called themselves, Katibat Al-Mawt (Squad of Death)  Note all seven made attempts to travel into Pakistan to join Afhgans fighting against U.S. during the initial invasion to oust the Taliban.
Hawash — a former software engineer — was the first of the group to plead guilty to a lesser charge of conspiring to help Al Qaeda and the Taliban during the war in Afghanistan. In exchange for a lighter sentence, he became the government's crucial material witness and testified against the others.  Hawash, 38, is a native of Palestine and has worked at Intel since 1992, both as an employee and, most recently, a contractor.
Ahmed and Muhammad Bilal pled guilty to conspiring to help Al Qaeda and the Taliban and to firearms charges in exchange for dismissing the main charge of conspiracy to wage war against the United States
LewisIn her plea agreement, "admits that on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, defendant Jeffrey Battle picked her up from work and told her about the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Battle then drove them to a park where defendants Battle, Patrice Lumumba Ford, Ahmed Bilal and others were practicing martial arts in order to prepare for jihad"
Oregon
Bly, Oregon Training Camp
Haroon Rashid Aswat, british citizen
James Ujaama (2 years)
Abu Hamza al-Masri, a militant London cleric
Oussama Kassir


2005
Training camp conspiracy broken up by authorities. Camp goals: seek fighters from the United States and London to wage jihad  Afghanistan.
Aswat charged with material support to terrorists, knowing his efforts would be used to "kill, kidnap and maim persons and damage property in a foreign country."  Aswat was taken into custody in Zambia in July in connection with the London transit bombings and extradited to the U.K.
 James Ujaama, initially promoted the camp, (sentenced 2 years)
al-Masri, a militant London cleric charged in U.K. with attempted murder and fomenting  terrorism and faces a U.S. indictment for Bly Training Camp operation.
Kassir accompanied Ujaama on initical scouting of Bly location
Texas
Drugs for Weapons Ring
Carlos Ali Romero Valera,
Uwe Jensen
Edgar Fernando Blanco Puerta
Elkin Alberto Arroyave Ruiz
Carlos Adolfo Romero-Panchano
Fanny Cecilia Barrera De-Amaris (5 years)
Adriana Gladys Mora

Supplying material support to United Self-Defense Forces (AUC) of Colombia

Operation White Terror
December of 2005, Carlos Ali Romero Valera, Uwe Jensen, Edgar Fernando Blanco Puerta, and Elkin Alberto Arroyave Ruiz were convicted on charges of supplying material support to a terrorist organization (the United Self-Defense Forces (AUC) of Colombia) through a weapons-for-drugs deal.
Fanny Cecilia Barrera de Amaris and Carlos Adolfo Romero-Panchano
Texas
Dealing in Terrorist Property

Basman Elashi
Bayan Elashi
Ghassan Elashi
Hazim Elashi (66 months)
Ihsan Elashi (6 years)

Conspiracy to deal in the property of a specially designated terrorist and money laundering. Activities were related to Infocom, an Internet Service provider believed to be a front for Hamas

Convicted in April of 2005
Virginia
Paintballer Terrorists (Virginia Jihad)

Masoud Khan ( life in prison)
Ali Al-Timimi (life plus 70 years)
Seifullah Chapman (85 years)
Hammad Abdur-Raheem (8 years)
Mohammad Aatique (10 1/2 years)
Donald Thomas Surratt (46 months)
Yong Ki Kwon (11 years)
Randall Todd Royer (10 years)
Ibrahim Ahmed al-Hamdi (15 years)
Khwaja Mahmood Hasen (11 years)
Caliph Basha Ibn Abdur-Raheem (Acquitted)
Sabri BenkHala (Acquitted)

Mohammed Ajmal Khan (serving 9 yr. sentence in U.K)
Ali Asad Chandia (15 years)

Linked to Lashkar e-Taiba in Pakistan and other Kashmiri Jihadists, as well as Al Qaeda.

Ali Asad Chandia and Mohammed Ajmal Khan were charged with conspiring to provide, and did provide, material support to Lashkar e Taiba -- LET both before and after it was designated as a foreign terrorist organization
2000-2003
Khan was indicted in March of 2004, and Timimi in February of 2005. Indictment (June 2003)
Chapman and Raheem - Conspiracy to levy war against the U.S. Indictment (June 2003),
All four convicted in March of 2004
Others fates are not known at this time.
Note:  Caliph Basha Ibn Abdur-Raheem and Sabri Benkhala were acquitted on all charges

Mohammed Ajmal Khan will face sentencing at the conclusion of his 9 year sentence in the U.K.









© Copyright 2006, Michael G. Crawford