DEFENDANT IN BUFFALO CELL CASE PLEADS GUILTY TO PROVIDING GOODS AND SERVICES TO USAMA BIN LADEN AND AL QAEDA

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Attorney General John Ashcroft, Assistant Attorney General Michael Chertoff of the Criminal Division, and U.S. Attorney Michael Battle of the Western District of New York announced today that Faysal Galab has pleaded guilty to a charge of providing goods and services to Usama bin Laden and al Qaeda.

Galab is one of six defendants charged in a two-count indictment in the Western District of New York last October with providing material support or resources to al Qaeda. In conjunction with the plea agreement entered today, the U.S. government filed a superseding criminal information charging Galab with contributing funds and services to specially designated terrorists, in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (Title 50 USC 1705.) In today's agreement, Galab pleaded guilty to the superseding information and agreed to cooperate with the government's ongoing investigation as well as other terrorism investigations.

Galab entered the plea this afternoon at U.S. District Court in Buffalo, N.Y. The charge Galab pleaded guilty to carries a maximum term of 10 years in prison, a fine of $250,000, or both.

"I congratulate U.S. Attorney Mike Battle for his leadership in this case," Attorney General Ashcroft said. "The guilty plea obtained by this office is the result of an intensive investigation by agents of the FBI in coordination with the Joint Terrorism Task Force, and other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Those who see fit to provide their money or services to support America's enemies, even if they are American citizens themselves, will face the full force of America's justice."

"Today's conviction is an important step in the Department's ongoing effort to root out those who would help our terrorist enemies," added Assistant Attorney General Chertoff. "We continue to commit every resource to tracking down terrorist cells here in the United States, from coast to coast. I commend the work of the prosecutors and the FBI in securing this conviction."

U.S. Attorney Michael Battle noted that criminal charges against the other defendants indicted last October remain in place, and the investigation into the activities of the defendants and others continues.

"Today, with the entering of a guilty plea by Faysal Galab, justice has been served," Battle said. "This is a significant resolution and an important step in the successful prosecution of these defendants."

On Oct. 21, 2002, Galab was indicted by a federal grand jury in Buffalo, along with co-defendants Yasein Taher, Shafal Mosed, Sahim Alwan, Mukhtar al-Bakri and Yayha Goba. Count One of the indictment charged the defendants with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists from the spring of 2001 through Sept. 13, 2002. Count Two charged the defendants with providing material support from the spring of 2001 through Aug. 2, 2001, for receiving military-type training at the Al Farooq camp affiliated with Usama bin Laden and al Qaeda near Kandahar, Afghanistan.

In the plea agreement, Galab admits that in early April of 2001, he agreed with the co-defendants and others to attend a training camp in Afghanistan, knowing that their planned trip was illegal. According to the plea, Galab, Mosed and Taher traveled to Kandahar shortly after arriving in Lahore, Pakistan, on April 29, 2001, and a few days later arrived at the al Farooq camp. Galab admits that he, Mosed and Taher worked under the control and direction of the al Qaeda organization, including the training and instruction in the use of weapons. The plea agreement states that defendants Goba, Alwan and Al-Bakri arrived at the al Farooq camp to receive the same training, and that Usama bin Laden appeared and spoke to everyone at the camp, stating that 50 men were on a mission to attack America, and claiming responsibility for attacking U.S. embassies in Africa. The agreement states that Galab left the camp before completing all of the training provided by al Qaeda, and ultimately returned to Lackawanna with Mosed and Taher in June 2001.

Usama bin Laden and al Qaeda were added by executive order to the list of specially designated terrorists on Aug. 20, 1998. The executive order prohibits transactions by U.S. persons with bin Laden and al Qaeda.

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