New Jersey Man Sentenced To Prison For Lying To Terrorism Investigators

NEWARK, N.J. – A Bayonne, N.J., man was sentenced today to 18 months in prison for lying to officials investigating Mohamed Alessa and Carlos E. Almonte – who were subsequently convicted of a conspiracy to travel from New Jersey to kill on behalf of a terrorist group in Somalia – U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Mohamed Osman, 21, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Dickinson R. Debevoise to making materially false statements to investigators in a matter involving international terrorism.

According to documents filed and statements made in Newark federal court:

During a June 2010 interview with members of the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), Osman falsely denied knowing about Alessa and Almonte’s plans to travel to Somalia to fight against government and multinational peacekeeping forces there.

Among other things, Osman specifically admitted that he had learned about Alessa and Almonte’s ideology and beliefs during their interactions, and that he had heard Alessa say he would start killing in the United States if he was unable to do it abroad. Osman also admitted that he willfully lied to investigators after being informed that they were conducting an international terrorism investigation and that it was against the law to make false statements during the interview.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Debevoise ordered Osman to serve three years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Fishman praised the outstanding work of the FBI; members of the Newark JTTF, including the New Jersey State Police; and the New York City Police Department in the investigation.

The government is represented by Andrew Kogan, Chief, and Assistant U.S. Attorney L. Judson Welle of the United States Attorney’s Office National Security Unit in Newark.

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Defense counsel: Stacy Ann Biancamano Esq., West Orange, N.J.