JAMES B. COMEY,
the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, PASQUALE
D'AMURO, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Office of
the FBI, and RAYMOND W. KELLY, the New York City Police Commissioner,
announced today that UZAIR PARACHA, a Pakistani
national with permanent resident alien status in the United States,
was charged in a 5-count Indictment, filed in Manhattan federal court,
with providing support to the Al Qaeda terrorist organization by seeking
to assist an Al Qaeda associate in entering the United States.
The Indictment
charges PARACHA with conspiracy to provide, and providing or attempting
to provide, material support or resources to Al Qaeda; conspiracy to
violate, and violating or attempting to violate,
regulations issued under the International Emergency Economic Powers
Act that prohibit making or receiving any contribution of funds, goods,
or services to or for the benefit of Al Qaeda; and identification document
fraud committed to facilitate an act of international terrorism.
PARACHA was previously charged in a criminal Complaint filed on August
8, 2003. According to the Complaint and the Indictment, PARACHA is accused
of agreeing to help an Al-Qaeda associate obtain documents that would
allow him to re-enter the United States and to conduct financial transactions
with the associate. To accomplish this, PARACHA also agreed to pose
as the associate while in the United States, and to take other actions
to assist the Al Qaeda associate.
"Today's indictment makes it clear that the Justice Department
will investigate and prosecute with the same energy and determination
those who provide material support to terrorists as the terrorist murderers
they aid," stated Attorney General John Ashcroft.
PARACHA, 23, will be arraigned before United States District Judge SIDNEY
H. STEIN on Tuesday, October 14, 2003, at 2 P.M.
If convicted, PARACHA
faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail on two of the counts, 15
years on two counts and 25 years on one count. In addition, each count
carries maximum fine of
$250,000.
Mr. COMEY praised
the efforts of the Joint Terrorism Task Force in conducting the investigation,
and noted that the investigation is continuing.
Assistant United States Attorney KARL METZNER is in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and
the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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