Two Egyptian Students Indicted in Florida on Explosives Charges

By JimKouri Posted in National Security — Comments (7) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

by Jim Kouri, CPP

Two University of South Florida (USF) students have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Tampa, Florida, for transporting explosives materials without permits, the Department of Justice announced on Friday.

The two-count indictment unsealed Friday charges Ahmed Abdellatif Sherif Mohamed and Youssef Samir Megahed, both Egyptian nationals, with transporting explosives in interstate commerce without permits. The indictment alleges that the two men, “not being licensees” under federal law, “did knowingly transport and cause to be transported in interstate commerce explosive materials” on or about Aug. 4, 2007 in the Middle District of Florida and elsewhere.

Mohamed was also charged with distributing information about building and using an explosive device. The indictment alleges that Mohamed taught and demonstrated the making and use of an explosive and destructive device, with the intent that such information be used for, and in the furtherance of, an activity that constitutes a federal crime of violence.

Mohamed, a civil engineering graduate student and teaching assistant at USF, and Megahed, an engineering student, were stopped for speeding and subsequently arrested on Aug. 4, 2007 in Goose Creek, SC by a South Carolina Berkeley County Sheriff's deputy.

Both Mohamed and Megahed were charged with possession of an explosive device, in violation of South Carolina law. Bond was set for Mohamed in the amount of $500,000 and for Megahead in the amount of $300,000. Both men are currently being held in Berkeley County jail.

The charges in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The charge of distributing information about explosive devices carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and the charge of transporting explosive materials carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

Reginald I. Lloyd, US Attorney for the District of South Carolina, expressed his appreciation for the efforts of the Berkeley County Sheriff's Department and the Ninth Circuit Solicitor’s Office in South Carolina.

“I am very grateful for the hard work and professionalism of our local law enforcement partners in this important investigation. The arresting deputy’s vigilance and the immediate response of our local investigators and prosecutors are highly commendable,” he stated.

This case is being prosecuted by the US Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, with the assistance of the National Security Division at the Department of Justice in Washington, DC The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Joint Terrorism Task Forces in both Tampa and South Carolina, with the assistance of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina.

Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police and he's a staff writer for the New Media Alliance (thenma.org). He's former chief at a New York City housing project in Washington Heights nicknamed "Crack City" by reporters covering the drug war in the 1980s. In addition, he served as director of public safety at a New Jersey university and director of security for several major organizations. He's also served on the National Drug Task Force and trained police and security officers throughout the country. Kouri writes for many police and security magazines including Chief of Police, Police Times, The Narc Officer and others. He's a news writer for TheConservativeVoice.Com and PHXnews.com. He's also a columnist for AmericanDaily.Com, MensNewsDaily.Com, MichNews.Com, and he's syndicated by AXcessNews.Com. He's appeared as on-air commentator for over 100 TV and radio news and talk shows including Oprah, McLaughlin Report, CNN Headline News, MTV, Fox News, etc. His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com. Kouri's own website is located at http://jimkouri.us

But what do you think Jim? by BooBooKitty

Bomb making terrorists or boys with dangerous toys? If this is two Islamic fundamentalist training once again in our educational system for the express purpose of killing Americans then this should be a much bigger story.
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Thou art the Great Cat, the avenger of the Gods, and the judge of words...-Inscription on the Royal Tombs at Thebes

Reply To This — User Info — #1

I find it interesting that by David Hinz

the distributing information charge carries twice as long a sentence as actually transporting the explosives. In the internet age, when the information is probably readily available, doesn't that seem a bit odd?

Actually having the explosives in their possession and transporting them cross country seems to ME to be the more dangerous activity...

Reply To This — User Info — #2

the disturbing part of the story to me by pilgrim

The disturbing part of this story to me is that Goose Creek, SC has a US Naval Weapons Station nearby. US nuclear submarines are docked here for repairs. Coincidence? I wonder.

"We should scrap this “comprehensive” immigration bill and the whole debate until the government can show the American people that we have secured the borders -- or at least made great headway."
Fred Thompson

Reply To This — User Info — #3

Isn't USF the place where by Leverkuhn

Sami Al-Arian was a prof?

A precedent embalms a principle.
- Disraeli

Reply To This — User Info — #4

USF = Jihad Central by Scott742

Yes, USF was Al-Arian's home base, and also the locale that hosted Ramadan Abdullah Shallah, now the head of the Islamic Jihad in Palestine. So, this likely doesn't come as a great surprise to anyone there. I know it didn't shock me.

Reply To This — User Info — #6

Which defense will we get? by bk

The usual one would be "the CAIR approach". These are innocent practitioners of the Religion of Peace who got lost while driving around with some firecrackers. They are being persecuted because of their religion by bigoted police and over-zealous prosecutors.

A newer possibility would be "the Edwards approach". They were studying bomb-making and terrorism in order to lead the fight against them.

Reply To This — User Info — #7

Redstate