Egyptian student to plead guilty
Mohamed faces up to 15 years in prison, fine for providing material support to terrorists
AP
Ahmed Abdellatif Sherif Mohamed
Transcript of the audio from the Berkeley County arrest of the two Egyptian students.
TAMPA, Fla. — An Egyptian college student who videotaped himself showing how to turn remote-controlled cars into bomb detonators has agreed to plead guilty to a federal charge of providing material support to terrorists, according to a plea agreement filed Friday.
Ahmed Mohamed, one of two students arrested after a traffic stop in Goose Creek in August, will enter the plea at a hearing next week in federal court in Tampa, said his attorney Linda Moreno.
Berkeley County deputies said they found explosives in the trunk of the car Mohamed was driving, but defense attorneys have claimed they were merely ingredients for homemade fireworks.
Under the terms of the plea deal, prosecutors have agreed to dismiss other charges against Mohamed, 26.
Mohamed stated that his purpose in producing and uploading the video to YouTube was to teach "martyrdoms" and "suiciders" how to save themselves so they could continue to fight the U.S. military in Arab countries, the plea agreement said.
In the 12-minute video, Mohamed speaks in Arabic and shows how to dismantle and rewire a remote-controlled toy car to make a detonator, the document said.
"Instead of the brethren going to, to carry out martyrdom operations, no, may God bless him, he can use the explosion tools from distance and preserve his life ... for the real battles," Mohamed states during the video, according to the document.
Mohamed faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and as many as three years of supervised release.
Moreno said her client decided to plead guilty "after a very long and agonizing decision and with the support of his family."
She said he could have risked life in prison, if convicted.
A telephone message left for the U.S. Attorney's Office was not returned Friday.
The plea agreement said that after Mohamed's arrest he was interviewed about the video.
"His statements constitute admissions that his intention in producing and distributing the recording was to support attempts by terrorists to murder employees of the United States, including members of the uniformed services," the agreement said.
The other former University of South Florida student, Youssef Megahed, is charged with illegally transporting explosives and possession of a destructive device. Mohamed faced those charges plus terrorism-related counts stemming from the how-to video.
They have claimed they were on a sightseeing trip and using GPS to find gas stations where they could buy cheap gas with gift cards.
A search of the car uncovered bullets and items in the trunk of the car that authorities described as pipe bombs, authorities said. Attorneys for the students said the items were four PVC pipes containing a mixture of sugar, potassium nitrate and cat litter, which along with fuses would be used for homemade, low-grade fireworks.
An FBI laboratory analysis determined the items were a "pyrotechnic mixture" that burned but didn't explode in tests.
Megahed, 22, was scheduled to be tried separately starting in May, but the trial was delayed after prosecutors appealed a judge's ruling to exclude some evidence. A judge released Megahed on $200,000 bail. It wasn't clear when the trial would start.
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Comments
Smart_Enough_2_Know_Better (anonymous) says...
These two clearly were up to no good. Perhaps not on that trip and at that moment in time, but it's a good thing that the Goose Creek police caught them and pressed the issue until these other issues came to light. They may have prevented a much more serious infraction down the road.
June 14, 2008 at 12:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
UberBlitzkrieg (anonymous) says...
If the same racist redneck stopped another attack, Well Sooooooooooooiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeee!!!! RED NECK! Give them to me!
June 14, 2008 at 4:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jammer (anonymous) says...
good job GCPD!!
I don't care what they "sounded like" on the tape, it's a job well done
come mess with my family and see what you get called... to worry about what name calling was going on while catching terrorist is totally asinine
those people on here trying to defend these punk terrorist should be eating crow right about now and thanking the GCPD for doing their job so well
June 14, 2008 at 7:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dustym59 (anonymous) says...
they'll sue over not having orange turbans to go with their purty orange prison issues.
June 14, 2008 at 7:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
moonpie (anonymous) says...
IT WASN'T GCPD IDIOTS IT WAS BERKELEY COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPT! MAN THIS STORY HAS BEEN OUT FOR A WHILE KNOW YOUR FACTS PEOPLE. IT HAPPENED NEAR GC. YOUR RIGHT THOUGH, GOOD JOB BERK CO SHERIFFS! REMEMBER GCPD ARE THE BUFOONS THAT CONDUCTED THE STRATFORD HIGH SCHOOL RAID, HARD TO GET THEM MIXED UP!
MAYBE 15 YRS? PUT THEM IN CUBA FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES!
June 14, 2008 at 8:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Pols101 (anonymous) says...
Is the original case of transporting lost?
June 14, 2008 at 8:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
O_O_O (anonymous) says...
AAAHHHH... the religion of peace.
I pray that these two come to know my Savior, Jesus Christ!!
Islam is a satanic lie. ...ALL other religions are lies.
Jesus tells us to pray for our enemies. That's obviously not easy, but true Christianity isn't easy.
PRAY FOR ALL MUSLIMS TO BE SAVED!!!
http://christiananswers.net/islam.html
JESUS RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 14, 2008 at 8:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LadyRenegade (anonymous) says...
Sorry to burst the "bash the cop" bubble, but it wasn't a GC cop that busted them, it was a BC Sheriff. Call them all a bunch of rednecks if you want. They did their jobs and admitted that there was a degree of professionalism lacking. Last I checked they were still human and made mistakes. Looking at the big picture, how many lives were saved from that bust? Do any of you want to take a guess on that? Go on, how many redneck cops does it take to save a life? These did. You'd be thankful if he saved YOUR life. Cops are used to that. "Where's a cop when you need one?" Helping someone else. Next time you see someone in a uniform try saying "Thanks for putting your life on the line so I can live mine." You won't do it, you don't have it in you, but you'll scream for help when you need it. Every day a uniform is put on it's with the knowledge that they may not return to their families. For those outside of the realm of the real world that officers, firefighters, paramedic, EMT, military, etc. get to play in every day, if you saw nearly half the things they do, you'd develop an unusual, sarcastic if somewhat cynical sense of humor too. Been there, saw that, kept the humor, and the nightmares.
June 14, 2008 at 8:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
RTC (anonymous) says...
I'm glad that they are at least going to get Mohamed on this charge. He accepted the plea, because he knew he was guilty as sin.
Megahed probably won't get much, if anything. His father couldn't tell the truth when he was interviewed, so it's no telling what that family has to hide.
They need to make a sweep of USF and send them all packing. If they could do that to the Iranian Citadel cadets then why not these students?
Many people scoff and make light of this situation, but has it not been proven that these people are a threat to Americans?
If you want to call it racial or religious profiling, then so be it.
Good job, BCSO.
June 14, 2008 at 9:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
skeeter (anonymous) says...
Good job officers and the justice system for seeing this as the action of terrorists. We are at war with these fanatics and I don't know if there will ever be peace. Maybe I'm a pessimist.
June 14, 2008 at 9:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jammer (anonymous) says...
yes yes yes we all know it was BCSO but it was in GC where it happened... call it a freudian text slip but we all know who and where it happened, you guys can stop getting your panties in a wad over it
good job dep. blakely from the BCSO
June 14, 2008 at 10:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blah_blah_blah (anonymous) says...
O_O_O
blah blah blah
We are ALL God's creations.
June 14, 2008 at 10:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CaptPete (anonymous) says...
To be heard on tape refering to the two suspects in a degrading manner shows lack of training.
June 14, 2008 at 10:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
O_O_O (anonymous) says...
Yes, blah blah blah...
We are all God's creations.
That in no way implies that Islam is true...
Any more than Scientology or Mormonism or Hinduism or any other "religion."
Mohammed was an epileptic, violent, child-molesting narcisist.
He claims that 700 years after Jusus' resurrection, an angel told him that Christianity is false, and that all men must now bow to him.
That anyone would base their eternal salvation on the rantings of one person ...ANY one person ...is showing a lack of discernment at best.
The Bible (which has literally hundreds of thousands of archaeological finds, as well as 3500 years of prophesy, and hundreds of eye-wittness accounts to prove it's validity) warned of exactly what happened to Mohammed.
Gal 1:8
But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.
ALL other religions truly are false.
Just as 2+2 can never equal anything but 4.
Jesus ALONE is God.
ONLY He can offer eternal salvation, because ONLY He was able to sacrafice Himself for your sins.
He willingly took your punnishment for you, so that you could be with Him forever ..even though you don't deserve it.
We are ALL sinners in desperate need of a Savior!!!
That Savior is JESUS.
June 14, 2008 at 11:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hgefc2002 (anonymous) says...
isn't it smart that the newspaper made it soooo public what the bombs consists of so the other sickos in the public can do the same thing???? yes, let's make a plea bargain so this "person" can get out of prison in 15 years but remember while in prison he can have access to a computer or some kind of communication with the general public and still serve his mission. let's not consider life in solitare with no communication with the outside world. that would be one less educated "person" being able to spread his intelligence. he is smart like a fox. we are just down right dumb. humanity has to stop somewhere. what about us???????????? our men and women are at war fighting countries out of our country and now the same countries are over here fighting us but in a more technological way. something really wrong with the picture of this new world. anyhow, i just hope this "person" isn't allowed communication with the outside world for 15 years, for my life and yours.
June 14, 2008 at 11:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
O_O_O (anonymous) says...
Here's just a few passages from the EVIL Koran, for those of you who might still be in the dark about what it teaches:
Qur'an 5:51 "Believers, take not Jews and Christians for your friends."
Qur'an 8:12 "I will terrorize the unbelievers. Therefore smite them on their necks and every joint and incapacitate them. Strike off their heads and cut off each of their fingers and toes."
Qur'an 8:59 "The infidels should not think that they can get away from us. Prepare against them whatever arms and weaponry you can muster so that you may terrorize them."
Qur'an 8:73 "The unbelieving infidels are allies. Unless you (Muslims) aid each other (fighting as one united block to make Allah's religion victorious), there will be confusion and mischief. Those who accepted Islam, left their homes to fight in Allah's Cause (al-Jihad), as well as those who give them asylum, shelter, and aid - these are (all) Believers: for them is pardon and bountiful provision (in Paradise)."
Qur'an 9:33 "He has sent His Messenger (Muhammad) with guidance and the Religion of Truth (Islam) to make it superior over all religions, even though the disbelievers detest (it)."
Qur'an 60:4 "We reject you. Hostility and hate have come between us forever, unless you believe in Allah only.'"
Ishaq:231 "Muslims are one ummah (community) to the exclusion of all men. Believers are friends of one another to the exclusion of all outsiders."
Ishaq:325 "Muslims, fight in Allah's Cause. Stand firm and you will prosper. Help the Prophet, obey him, give him your allegiance, and your religion will be victorious."
This is a "religion" of hatred, lies, and evil.
Jesus came in LOVE, so that ANYONE who takes Him as their Lord can have eternal salvation.
ALL other religions are lies, and have NO way to verify their claims.
June 14, 2008 at 11:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
O_O_O (anonymous) says...
Hey Mouth...
ROCK ON FOR JESUS, BRO!!!!! >
June 14, 2008 at 11:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
drp7773 (anonymous) says...
I'm glad the truth finally came out, with all the BS reporting that took place and the crock pot lawyers defending this garbage. Only worry now is this garbage will get out with good behavior and have even more hate for the USA lets just shoot them now so we dont have to worry about themin a few years. Garbage chicken shyt trash fix a bomb and walk away and blow people away, or blow themselves up while killing lots of people, no passion should be shown here, just shoot the trash and take it out.
June 14, 2008 at 11:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CMLMADDOG (anonymous) says...
What are the odds this terrorist will actually make it out of prison?!
June 14, 2008 at 11:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blah_blah_blah (anonymous) says...
O_O_O & MOTS,
I am not defending these terrorists or Islam, and, I, as well, am a born-again Christian.
I am just against bashing other religions, and calling them lies. I view other religions as culturally different, not wrong. I am not going to judge anyone. Islam, or any other religion is not evil, the extremists terrorists are evil.
Faith is the cornerstone of any religion.
For Jesus said; these 3 remain, Faith, Hope, and Love, and the greatest of these is LOVE.
June 14, 2008 at 11:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
O_O_O (anonymous) says...
blah blah blah...
The Bible tells us that we live ONCE.
Hinduism teaches that we we live countless times.
Both CANNOT be true.
The Bible can be proven true...therefore Hinduism MUST be a LIE!
To let another person spend eternity in Hell is not showing them love.
You view other religions as "culturally different."
Do you view Scientology (a Sci-Fi farse about evil galactic rulers solving overpopulation on other planets, bringing that population to Earth, nuking them, and those souls now living in us as evil agents) as merely "culturally different?"
Do you believe that having "faith" in that LIE will get you into Heaven?
EVERY OTHER religion is based in LIES, which are as ridiculous as Scientology.
Jesus ALONE can forgive sin.
NOT Muhammed, Buddah, Charles Taze Russel, Mary Baker Eddy, L. Ron Hubbard, Charles Darwin or ANYONE else.
Jesus tells us that He is "THE way THE truth and THE life, and NO MAN COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPTH THROUGH HIM."
He also tells us that MOST people will NOT be granted eternal life with Him.
June 14, 2008 at 11:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blah_blah_blah (anonymous) says...
MOTS:
You can't be a true believer in Jesus and judge others. You are doing a lot of talking on God's behalf, and you had better be careful, only HE knows who receives eternal bliss.
Jesus' entire life was compassion for those that were outcast by society and religious leaders. Remember the woman at the well?
June 14, 2008 at 12:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Smart_Enough_2_Know_Better (anonymous) says...
Oh boy, I gave credit to the wrong police force. 1,000 apologies to the Berkeley County deputies.
June 14, 2008 at 12:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blah_blah_blah (anonymous) says...
All I am saying is, GOD decides, NOT YOU!
You worry about YOUR not-so-perfect life, and leave the teaching to GOD.
June 14, 2008 at 12:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
O_O_O (anonymous) says...
blah blah blah...
Jesus tells us not to cast our pearls before swine.
How could we possibly know who the "swine" are if we don't judge them on their actions and beliefs?
Jesus was obviously saying not to judge others hipocritically... NOT just to leave our brains and discernment behind.
We are to know Christians by their fruit... which obviously implies judging others' fruit.
How could we possibly preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth, if we are to merely accept others' beliefs as righteous?
Your argument has more holes than swiss cheese!
READ YOUR BIBLE DAILY!!!!!
June 14, 2008 at 12:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DoniaDutchess (anonymous) says...
Has anyone noticed the reporting on this story (or lack thereof?)in past months? I can't help but feel like there's more to this story than what's being put on our plates. Does anyone else feel like we're missing details?
June 14, 2008 at 1:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Guest29445 (anonymous) says...
Great Job Deputy Lamar Blakely. It is amazing what comes up if you google this deputies name. The insults are endless. Blakely has proven himself as a assest to bcso and the residents of berkeley county. I hope no one ever forgets your contributions to this community on that August day. Anyone know how to contact him directly? bcso wont take any messages for him or provide a number. He deserves a Thank you and pat on the back.
June 14, 2008 at 2:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ForPnC (anonymous) says...
I think I've thanked those deputies half to death but here's another - THANK YOU!
As for this guy, he pleading guilty so hang him high. Better yet, stow him away in a dark, little corner so he has no contact with anyone at all. Let him finish going stark raving mad. I DON'T CARE.
June 14, 2008 at 3:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
RTC (anonymous) says...
DoniaDutchess, The Tampa Tribune has done an excellent job of keeping people up to date on this story. Go to their website, and you can read everything about both of these guys from the very beginning.
June 14, 2008 at 3:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
RTC (anonymous) says...
www.tampatribune.net.
People think that posters on our threads are bloodthirsty?
You oughta read the comment section in this paper.
June 14, 2008 at 3:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jammer (anonymous) says...
"Posted by blah_blah_blah on June 14, 2008 at 12:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
All I am saying is, GOD decides, NOT YOU!
You worry about YOUR not-so-perfect life, and leave the teaching to GOD."
hey brother, he didn't decide... he's merely telling you what God decided as it is written, which means God did decide exactly that
read your bible and you can read it for yourself where God says exactly what it takes to get into Heaven... there is no need for interpretation, it's in the bible in clear black and white letters... there's no disputing what it says either, it's clear and to the point
it's not one of those what "is is" kind of things... lol
Muslims don't wish to be friends with us and it is written in their book not to be.... awwwww I'm soooo hurt... NOT
we don't exactly wish to be friends with people that want to chop our heads off either, it's obvious that they don't understand how strong and capable we are but one day they will know... the fear will be in their eyes then, as happens so often overseas now
June 14, 2008 at 4:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mag06 (anonymous) says...
I wonder if the national news will report this story. I'm guessing they won't. It's much more interesting to report on an ignorant racist police officer from South Carolina who arrests an "innocent" college student because of racial profiling.
Kudos to Goose Creek PD!
June 14, 2008 at 5:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DoniaDutchess (anonymous) says...
Thanks, RTC. I'll check it out.
June 14, 2008 at 5:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DoniaDutchess (anonymous) says...
The thing that scares me the most is not knowing exactly where these guys were heading when they were stopped. They could have been going anywhere:The Weapons Station, Northwoods Mall...Who knows? The deputy who stopped them that night probably saved more lives than we'll ever know about. 15 years doesn't seem like much for a someone who has incriminated himself as a terrorist on You Tube.
June 14, 2008 at 6:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
RTC (anonymous) says...
DoniaDutchess, I have shared many of your same fears. I have often wondered if they were meeting up with someone else with more dangerous explosive materials.
My biggest fear is knowing that these two are not alone.
There are most likely many of them all over the USA planning another attack. God help us all.
June 14, 2008 at 7:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LadyRenegade (anonymous) says...
RTC, "there is nothing to fear but fear itself" if you allow, for one moment, =anyone= to believe you are afraid then you have given them control. Once you no longer have control of yourself life is a lost cause, they have exactly what they want. Intimidation is a game played by bullies in second grade and terrorists. Those who defended these two people refuse to admit a logical conclusion. They would have John Q. Public believe "it was just kid stuff". What they do not reveal is that when several everyday ingredients are combined, it can be deadly (think meth if you want another prime example.) When you have two from Fl., two from Ga., and one from Va. meet in D.C. and put all of those common firework makings, RC toys, etc. together you can have a very lethal product. With due respects to CaptPete, there was a mistake in judgment, verbally, with his partner. At all times in the video available to the public his behavior towards the individuals in the vehicle is as a professional. I think any layperson with a modicum of knowledge would be suspect if they were to see activity as they approached the vehicle. What I find disturbing far beyond this religion vs redneck spat is that our laws have come so far as to permit FACTS to be removed as evidence in a judiciary case. If it looks like an apple and it tastes like an apple, and smells like an apple, then it must be an apple and should be allowed as a fact! Yet, the defendant claims "he tripped over my cart of oranges and the apple fell out!" Your Honor! We move that the case be dismissed under illegal search and seizure. Case dismissed! No apple ever existed! This is a very huge hole in the law. Intended to protect, it is used perversely by defense attorneys to get people out of charges. The judicial system in this country has become nothing more than back room politics and a money exchange. Officers can only do one thing, enforce the laws as they are written. For the individual who wrote me privately, go right ahead and protect yourself. I do too. No matter what career, there are always going to be good and bad and those who make the whole career field look disgusting and dirty. I will accept the assistance of BCSD any day.
June 14, 2008 at 9:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jammer (anonymous) says...
they will learn the hard way that they can't scare us, all they'll succeed in doing is pissing us off and that will not be good for them....
June 14, 2008 at 10:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
iceman1978 (anonymous) says...
Up to 15 years in prison? That's all? What they should have done is make the guy beg for his life and give us one reason why we shouldn't line him at a wall before a firing squad.
This entire incident never should have made it this far to begin with. If it were up to me both of them would have been put on a plane and taken to a black site within 24 hours of being arrested.
June 14, 2008 at 11:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
grayghost (anonymous) says...
HEY !! SOMEONE ASK SCARLETT WILSON....WHY DID SHE DROP STATE CHARGES AGAINST THEM??????? Dont give me this...let the FEDS handles it....look at Virginia and Mike Vick! SHE DROPPED THE CASE JUST AS FAST AS SHE DROPPED GRAY ERVIN!! Lets not forget she TOOK the case from Blair Jennings!!! HE WOULD HAVE INDICTED THEM!!
June 15, 2008 at 12:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
realman (anonymous) says...
I hate these guys. They should spend their lives in prison. Our judicial system is too easy. These guys wanted to kill innocent civilians. One day they will be released from prison, and they will taste freedom that they don't deserve. They should not be shown any mercy whatsoever. I hope they are deported as soon as they are released from prison, and then classified "persona non grata" if I remembered how to spell that correctly. I hope they die in prison.
June 15, 2008 at 12:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
realman (anonymous) says...
"Plea deal" my ass!
June 15, 2008 at 12:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
realman (anonymous) says...
These guys are full of hate because they're so ugly. See how they now grow beards, since their "cover" as students has been blown? Now they grow beards. . .
June 15, 2008 at 12:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
realman (anonymous) says...
I'd like to remove their beards with a propane torch.
June 15, 2008 at 12:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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