Joint Regional Intelligence Center

• 2 pages
• October 26, 2009

(U) JRIC provides the following summary of recent terrorism-related arrests. These cases are not related to one another; several of the arrests and indictments resulted from lengthy investigations.

(U) Michael C. Finton Arrested for Attempting to Bomb a Federal Courthouse

(U) On 23 September 2009, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested Michael C. Finton, a.k.a “Talib Islam,” a 29-year-old US citizen, for attempted murder of federal employees and attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction. Earlier that day, Finton allegedly attempted to detonate what he believed to be a van laden with explosives outside of the Paul Findley Federal Building and Courthouse located in Springfield, Illinois. If convicted, Finton faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.

(U) Najibullah Zazi Indicted for Conspiracy to Use Weapons of Mass Destruction

(U) On 24 September 2009, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that Najibullah Zazi, a 24-year-old legal permanent US resident from Afghanistan, was indicted on conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction. The Colorado resident is alleged to have received training in explosives at a terrorist training camp in Pakistan. Upon return to the United States, Zazi reportedly purchased the materials and chemicals required to manufacture explosive devices. If convicted, Zazi faces a maximum of life in prison.

(U) Betim Kaziu Indicted on Terrorism Charges

(U) On 24 September 2009, DOJ officials unsealed an indictment charging Betim Kaziu, a 21-year-old US citizen, with one count each of conspiracy to commit murder in a foreign country and conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists. The Brooklyn resident allegedly traveled overseas in February 2009 with the intent of attending a terrorist camp or joining al-Shabbab in Somalia. Kosovar authorities arrested Kaziu in Kosovo in August 2009. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted of conspiracy to commit murder overseas, and a maximum of 15 years in prison if convicted of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists.

(U) Hosam Maher Husein Smadi Arrested in Dallas for Attempting to Bomb Skyscraper

(U) On 24 September 2009, the FBI arrested Hosam Maher Smadi, a 19-year-old Jordanian citizen living illegally in the United States, for attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction. Smadi allegedly parked and attempted to detonate what he believed to be a vehicle borne improvised explosive device at the base of the 60-story Fountain Place office tower in Dallas, Texas. On 8 October 2009, a federal grand jury indicted Smadi on one count of attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction, and one count of bombing a place of public use with the intent to cause death or serious bodily injury. Each count carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $250,000 fine.

(U) Tarek Mehanna Charged with Conspiracy to Provide Material Support to Terrorists

(U) On 21 October 2009, DOJ officials announced the arrest and indictment of Tarek Mehanna, a 27-year-old with dual US-Egyptian citizenship, on one count of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists. The Massachusetts resident allegedly traveled overseas with the intent to attend a terrorist training camp, and engaged in multiple conversations with his unindicted co-conspirators to attack unidentified shopping malls. Mehanna was previously indicted in January 2009 for making false statements to the FBI. If convicted, Mehanna faces a maximum of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

(U) The JRIC advises regional public safety agencies to report suspicious activities to leads@lajric.org. For comments, questions, or product requests please contact the JRIC at (562) 345-1100 or jric@lajric.org.

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