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USF Explosives Case Leads To 3rd Student's Arrest

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By ELAINE SILVESTRINI, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 14, 2007

Updated: 12/14/2007 12:13 am

TAMPA - Two days before he was to graduate, a University of South Florida student was arrested Thursday on a weapons charge in connection with a case against two other students accused of transporting explosives.

Karim Moussaoui, 28, went to a shooting range with the two other students, Youssef Megahed and Ahmed Mohamed, on July 11, according to a complaint filed in U.S. District Court. Moussaoui told the FBI he took pictures and didn't fire any weapons, the complaint states.

Mohamed, 26, and Megahed, 21, both Egyptian nationals, were arrested in South Carolina on Aug. 4 and charged with having explosives in their car. Mohamed later was accused of trying to help terrorists by posting on the Internet a video in which he showed how to use a remote-controlled toy as a bomb detonator.

According to the complaint against Moussaoui, Megahed signed a membership agreement and rented a Glock 17, a 9 mm handgun, on July 11 at the Shoot Straight Gun and Archery Range at 3909 N. U.S. 301.

Moussaoui and others are shown entering the range eight days later on a surveillance video that Shoot Straight provided to the FBI, according to the complaint. Agents searching a computer found in Megahed's home found pictures of Moussaoui "standing at a firing lane possessing a shoulder-fired weapon and wearing the type of hearing protection shooters use at a shooting range."

Federal authorities have charged the international student with "possession or receiving of a firearm by a person admitted to the United States under a non-immigrant visa." The charge carries a maximum of 10 years in federal prison.

"We've known since the summer they were interested in this person," said USF spokesman Ken Gullette, referring to Moussaoui.

Moussaoui is from Morocco and has been living in a campus residence hall and studying computer engineering, Gullette said. He was scheduled to receive his undergraduate degree Saturday.

His parents arrived Wednesday from Morocco to attend his graduation.

They signed a $50,000 signature bond for his release. Moussaoui surrendered his passport and travel documents, and was released late Thursday afternoon, according to his attorney.

The defendant was told he must find an apartment with a phone within two weeks and begin serving house arrest and wear an ankle monitor. Until then, he must have daily phone contact with pretrial services. He now lives in a student dormitory, which he must vacate after graduation.

Moussaoui's attorney, Stephen Crawford, said his client was awakened Thursday morning in his dorm room and arrested. Moussaoui was scheduled to take his last final exam at 1 p.m., but missed the class, Crawford said.

Crawford said Moussaoui comes from a prominent family of engineers and developers in Morocco. He had planned to return to Morocco after his graduation and take over the family business.

Moussaoui's father, Hamou, said, "America is a country of justice. ...My son loves America. Since he was a boy, he loves America."

Crawford called the charge "a relatively minor offense," and said his client didn't even fire the weapon in question. "The reason we are here in federal court is he is a friend of Mr. Mohamed and Mr. Megahed," Crawford said.

"This information is nothing new," said Megahed's attorney, public defender Adam Allen, referring to the information in the complaint against Moussaoui.

Because Megahed is a legal permanent resident, it was legal for him to possess a firearm, Allen said. However, Moussaoui's status as a student visitor prohibited him from possessing firearms, according to Crawford.

Tribune reporter Mike Wells and News Channel 8 reporter Mark Douglas contributed to this report. Reporter Elaine Silvestrini can be reached at (813) 259-7837 or esilvestrini@tampatrib.com.

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