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Probation Urged For USF Grad

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By ELAINE SILVESTRINI

The Tampa Tribune

Published: April 5, 2008

TAMPA - A University of South Florida graduate convicted Wednesday of a federal weapons charge deserves no more than six months in federal prison and should receive probation, his attorney said in a court motion.

Karim Moussaoui, 28, a Moroccan, was convicted of possessing a firearm in violation of his student visa because he posed for pictures holding a rifle in a shooting range in July.

After the jury verdict, U.S. District Judge James D. Whittemore ordered Moussaoui detained without bail, saying he feared Moussaoui would flee in the face of a federal prison sentence estimated at 27 to 33 months.

Moussaoui's attorney, Deeann Athan, filed a motion asking the judge to reconsider.

Athan said the correct calculation would have Moussaoui facing zero to six months in prison, meaning he could get probation.

Moussaoui was two days away from graduating from USF with three computer science degrees when he was arrested Dec. 15 and charged with the weapons offense, though he later graduated. The charge relates to a visit to a firing range in July with fellow student Youssef Megahed.

Megahed, an Egyptian citizen in the United States as a permanent legal resident, was arrested in South Carolina in August with another Egyptian USF student, Ahmed Mohamed. Both men are awaiting trial on a charge they illegally transported explosives. Mohamed is also awaiting another trial on a charge he tried to help terrorists by posting a video on the Internet showing how to use a remote-controlled toy to detonate a bomb.

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