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Former USF Student Agrees To Plead Guilty To Aiding Terrorists

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By ELAINE SILVESTRINI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 13, 2008

TAMPA – Former University of South Florida student Ahmed Mohamed has agreed to plead guilty to providing material support to terrorists, according to a signed 12-page plea agreement entered onto the docket in U.S. District Court.

Mohamed, an Egyptian citizen, was arrested, along with another student, Youssef Megahed, in South Carolina in August after deputies said they found explosive materials in their trunk.

Authorities charged Mohamed with trying to help terrorists in connection with a video they said he made and posted to the Web site YouTube. On the video, authorities said, he showed how to use a remote-controlled toy to detonate a bomb.

Under the terms of the plea deal, prosecutors have agreed to dismiss other charges, including counts in an indictment alleging he illegally transported explosives. The maximum penalty for the charge to which Mohamed will plead guilty is 15 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.

Mohamed's attorneys, Lyann Goudie and Linda Moreno, noted their client could have faced as much as life in prison if convicted of some of the other charges he faced. The decision to plead guilty, they said, was made by Mohamed, after a long and agonizing discussion.

Megahed's attorney, public defender Adam Allen, said, "We're happy to see that the person who was responsible for the illegal activity charged in the indictment has decided to plead guilty to it. We're also hopeful that the government intends to dismiss the alleged explosives counts against my client as well."

Reached in Egypt, Mohamed's father, Abdel Latif Mohamed, said he didn't know about the plea agreement and couldn't discuss it until he talked to an attorney.

U.S. Attorney's spokesman Steve Cole declined to say what precipitated the plea deal. "The plea agreement speaks for itself, and at this time we have no further comment," he said.

The plea agreement describes the 12-minute YouTube video in detail, and says Mohamed told investigators his intention in making and distributing the recording was to support attempts by terrorists to murder employees of the United States, including members of the military engaged in their official duties.

Mohamed said he made the video in his Tampa apartment and uploaded it using the screen name Michaljebral. He said he wanted to teach "martyrdoms" and "suiciders" how to save themselves so they could continue to fight the invaders, the plea agreement states.

Mohamed said he considered the U.S. Military and those fighting with the U.S. military in Arab countries to be invaders.

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