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Click here for the indictment formally charging Mohammed Zazi

October 8, 2009

MOHAMMED ZAZI INDICTED FOR FALSE STATEMENT INVOLVING INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC TERRORISM

DENVER – Mohammed Zazi, age 53, who is presently residing in Aurora, Colorado, was indicted today by a federal grand jury in Denver for making a false statement in a matter involving international and domestic terrorism, United States Attorney David Gaouette and Denver FBI Special Agent in Charge James Davis announced.  Zazi is presently free on a $50,000 unsecured bond, with the condition that he be under electronic monitoring by the court.  He is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Denver (at 901 19th Street) tomorrow, Friday, October 9, 2009, at 1:30 pm, in Courtroom A201 before Magistrate Judge Craig B. Shaffer.

Mohammed Wali Zazi was first arrested by the FBI based on a Criminal Complaint filed on Saturday, September 19, 2009.  He was indicted today, October 8, 2009.

According to the indictment, on or about September 16, 2009, Mohammed Zazi did knowingly and willfully make a materially false, fictitious, and fraudulent statement to agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).  Specifically, Mohammed Zazi allegedly denied that he spoke with anyone by telephone regarding whether Najibullah Zazi was in any trouble, when, in fact, on or about September 11, 2009, he did speak by telephone with a person regarding whether Najibullah Zazi was in any trouble.

If convicted of the charge, Mohammed Zazi faces not more than 8 years in federal prison, and up to a $250,000 fine, or both. 

The Zazi case is being investigated by Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Joint Terrorism Task Forces in Denver and New York.  Substantial assistance has also been provided by the Counterterrorism Section of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Mohammed Zazi is being prosecuted by United States Attorney David Gaouette, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tim Neff and Greg Holloway, and Counterterrorism Trial Attorney William Narus.  Najibullah Zazi is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York.

These charges are only allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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