(HOUSTON) – After a three-day trial, a federal jury has convicted Adnan Mirza, 33, of all nine counts in an indictment arising from his efforts to provide support and funds to the Taliban, United States Attorney José Angel Moreno announced today. Mirza, a citizen of Pakistan, had entered the United States on a student visa and was attending a local community college in 2005 and 2006 when he committed the offenses for which he was convicted.
The jury returned its verdicts this evening, finding Mirza guilty of conspiracy to unlawfully possess firearms, conspiracy to provide funds to the Taliban and all seven counts of unlawful possession by an alien of firearms and ammunition. United States District Judge Ewing Werlein, who presided over the trial, has set sentencing for Sept. 10, 2010. Mirza faces a maximum of five years imprisonment for each of the two conspiracy convictions as well as fines of up to $250,000. Each of the five unlawful possession of firearms or ammunition by an alien carries a maximum fine of $250,000 and a term of confinement of not more than 10 years. Mirza has been in federal custody without bond since his arrest and will remain in custody pending his sentencing hearing.
During the trial, the United States presented evidence that proved Mirza, a foreign national who had entered the United States on a student visa, is not permitted by federal law to possess firearms while in the United States. Through an FBI undercover investigation, the evidence also proved Mirza and others engaged in weekend camping/training and practice sessions with firearms on six different occasions beginning in May 2006 at a location on the north side of Houston to prepare for Jihad. Evidence also proved Mirza and the others intended to send funds to the Taliban.
The investigation leading to the charges against Mirza and others was conducted by the Houston office of the FBI with the assistance of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Deputy Criminal Chief Glenn Cook and Assistant U.S. Attorney James McAlister prosecuted the case for the United States
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This case against Adnan Mirza was a setup. I’ve heard him speak and he is a humanitarian and not a a supporter of the Taliban.
He was offered a deal for five years. If he was guilty he would have taken the deal.
What a shameful display of fear-mongering and justice gone awry.
I hope this travesty comes to light before this volunteer, humanitarian and academic suffers any further from an obvious entrapment by a homeland security/FIB division with too much time on their hands.
Have a listen to this interview:
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/10/27/convicted_student_adnan_mirza_maintains_innocence
And had he taken the “deal” he would in fact be free right now, so there was no incentive to going through a trial other than that he sought justice in open court. Not a move which makes sense if you’re guilty and potentially up for 40 years…