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Ex-USF Student From Morocco Pleads Not Guilty In Gun Case

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By THOMAS W.  KRAUSE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 22, 2008

Updated: 01/22/2008 02:21 pm

TAMPA - A former University of South Florida student from Morocco pleaded not guilty this morning to a federal gun charge levied after FBI agents found pictures of him holding a gun for two more former students who are charged with transporting explosives.

Court records show that Karim Moussaoui, 28, went to a shooting range with Youssef Megahed and Ahmed Mohamed, on July 11. Moussaoui told the FBI he took pictures but 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.

In this morning's hearing, federal prosecutors and Moussaoui's attorney told U.S. Magistrate Mark Pizzo that the charge is simple and straightforward and should not take much time. The trial tentatively was set for March.

Last month, just two days before Moussaoui was expected to graduate with three computer-related degrees, he was arrested in his dorm room.

Federal authorities said Megahed had signed up for a membership at Shoot Straight Gun and Archery Range on U.S. 301. Agents searching Megahed's computer found a picture of Moussaoui at the gun range holding a "shoulder fired" weapon and wearing earplugs.

Moussaoui is in the United States on a student visa. It is illegal for foreign nationals on student visas to possess weapons. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in federal prison.

Moussaoui and his attorney declined to talk about the case today. Previously, Moussaoui said he held the unloaded gun for the picture because guns are not legal in his country. He described the picture as a "souvenir."

Because of the arrest, Moussaoui missed a final exam. He had worried that he would not be able to graduate with all three degrees: computer science, computer information and computer engineering. His lawyer, Stephen Crawford, said today that USF allowed him to make up the exam.

"That was very nice of USF," Crawford said.

Moussaoui graduated in December.

Reporter Thomas W. Krause can be reached at (813) 259-7698 or tkrause@tampatrib.com.

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