Mesa Man Pleads Guilty to Lying to the FBI During Investigation into Organization that Supported Hamas

PHOENIX—Akram Musa Abdallah, a.k.a. Abu Saiaf, 54, of Mesa, Arizona, pleaded guilty here today to False Statements to a Government Agency, in U.S. District Court.

Diane J. Humetewa, United States Attorney for the District of Arizona, stated, “It is important that the public cooperate in investigations involving national security. We will aggressively prosecute anyone who lies about investigations relating to international terrorism or its financing.”

Akram Musa Abdallah, had been charged with violating one count of False Statements to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). On or between January 24th and January 27th, 2007, in the District of Arizona, Akram Musa Abdallah, knowingly made a false material statement to special agents of the FBI. Between those dates, Abdallah was being interviewed by FBI agents in connection with the federal investigation and prosecution of the Holy Land Foundation for Relief & Development (HLF) and its officers. At the time of the interviews, Abdallah knew the HLF was a Specially Designated Terrorist organization. Abdallah also knew that when he was interviewed, the HLF and its officers were pending trial in the Northern District of Texas for crimes including providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization.

Stephen A. Cocco, Acting Special Agent in Charge for the Phoenix office of the FBI, stated, “The FBI will continue to look to the community to provide support in matters related to international terrorism. Individuals or entities that impede investigations not only waste valuable time and resources but jeopardize national security.”

During the interviews, Abdallah told FBI agents he was not involved in fund raising activities for the HLF, when, in fact, between approximately 1994 and 1997, Abdallah was involved in numerous fund raising activities, including collecting donations, organizing, facilitating and coordinating fund raising events on behalf of the HLF in the Phoenix metropolitan area.

On December 4, 2001, the HLF, based in Richardson, Texas, was designated by the President of the United States as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist organization, pursuant to Executive Order 13224, and as a Specially Designated Terrorist organization under Executive Order 12947. The HLF was shut down as a result of the designation and its assets were frozen. In July 2004, the HLF and seven of its principals were indicted on a variety of charges stemming from its financial support of Hamas, United States v. Holy Land Foundation et. al., 3:04 - CR-240-P (N.D.TX). The charges included providing material support to a Foreign Terrorist Organization (Hamas) in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2339B; dealing in the property of a Specially Designated Terrorist (Hamas) in violation of 50 U.S.C. §§ 1701 - 1706; money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1956; and tax violations for filing false Forms 990, in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7206(1).

In November 2008, after a two month trial, every HLF defendant was found guilty of their respective charges. Sentencing is scheduled in Dallas for May 27, 2009.

A conviction for False Statements to a Government Agency carries a maximum penalty of eight years, a $250,000 fine or both. In determining an actual sentence, Judge Neil V. Wake will consult the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide appropriate sentencing ranges. The judge, however, is not bound by those guidelines in determining a sentence.

Sentencing is set before Judge Wake on August 17, 2009 at 1:30 p.m.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution is being handled by David A. Pimsner, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Arizona, Phoenix and Barry Jonas, Trial Attorney, Counter Terrorism Section, U.S. Department of Justice.

CASE NUMBER: CR-08-0947-PHX-NVW
RELEASE NUMBER: 2009-151(Abdallah)

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