FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, November 5, 2009
WWW.USDOJ.GOV/USAO/MA
CONTACT: CHRISTINA DiIORIO-STERLING
PHONE: (617)748-3356
E-MAIL: USAMA.MEDIA@USDOJ.GOV
TWO MEN CHARGED WITH MATERIAL SUPPORT TO TERRORISTS,
CONSPIRACY TO KILL IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY AND OTHER OFFENSES
BOSTON, MA - Two men were charged today in federal court with providing material
support to terrorists, conspiracy to kill in a foreign country, multiple false statements to law
enforcement and conspiracy.
Acting United States Attorney Michael K. Loucks and Warren T. Bamford, Special
Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Boston Field Division, announced
today that TAREK MEHANNA, age 27, of Sudbury, Massachusetts, and AHMAD
ABOUSAMRA, age 28, who currently resides in Syria, were charged in a ten count indictment
with providing and conspiring to provide material support to terrorists, conspiracy to kill in a
foreign country, conspiracy to provide false information to law enforcement and a number of
separate counts of false statements to law enforcement.
The Indictment alleges that, beginning in or about 2001 and continuing until in or about
the date of the return of the Indictment, MEHANNA and ABOUSAMRA conspired with each
other, and others, to provide material support to terrorists knowing that their support would be
used in preparation for and carrying out a conspiracy to kill, kidnap, maim, or injure persons or
damage property in a foreign country and extraterritorial homicide of a U.S. national. It is
further alleged that between 2002 and the spring of 2007, MEHANNA and ABOUSAMRA
provided or attempted to provide such support.
Additionally, according to the Indictment, between 2001 and the date of the return of the
Indictment, MEHANNA and ABOUSAMRA conspired to kill in a foreign country. Finally, the
Indictment alleges that between 2003 and the date of the return of the Indictment, MEHANNA
and ABOUSAMRA conspired to provide false information to law enforcement, and on specific
occasions allegedly provided false information and documents.
MEHANNA was previously indicted in January 2009 for making false statements to
members of the Joint Terrorism Task Force of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in connection
with a terrorism investigation. On October 21, 2009, he was arrested on a Criminal Complaint
that alleged conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and is being detained pending a
hearing in U.S. District Court in Boston, on November 12, 2009.
If convicted on either of the material support charges, MEHANNA and ABOUSAMRA
each face up to 15 years’ imprisonment, to be followed by supervised release for any term of
years up to life and a $ 250,000 fine, on each of the two counts. If convicted of conspiracy to
kill in a foreign country, MEHANNA and ABOUSAMRA each face up to life imprisonment, to
be followed by supervised release for any term of years up to life.
Two of the false statement counts alleged against MEHANNA and one alleged against
ABOUSAMRA concern false statements in connection with a terrorism investigation; on those
counts, the defendants faces a maximum of 8 years imprisonment, to be followed by 3 years’
supervised release and a $250,000 fine on each count. The remaining false statement counts and
the conspiracy to provide false information, each carry up to 5 years’ imprisonment, 3 years of
supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
The case was investigated by the Joint Terrorism Task Force of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation and involved officers and agents from a number of other federal, state and local
law enforcement agencies. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey Auerhahn
and Aloke S. Chakravarty of Loucks’ Anti-Terrorism and National Security Unit.
The details contained in the Indictment are allegations. The defendants are presumed to
be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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