TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Ex-USF Student's Sentencing Delayed Until Dec. 18

ADVERTISEMENT

By RAY REYES

rreyes@tampatrib.com

Published: November 6, 2008

Related Links

• Sentencing Memo

  Ahmed Mohamed

TAMPA - The sentencing of a former University of South Florida student who pleaded guilty to trying to help terrorists has been moved from Friday to a later date, according to a notice filed today in federal court.

Ahmed Mohamed pleaded guilty to providing material support to terrorists by making and posting videos on the Internet that showed how to use a remote-controlled toy to detonate a bomb. The video was posted on the Web site YouTube.

Mohamed and his friend, Youssef Megahed, were arrested last year in South Carolina after deputies there found items in their car that prosecutors say were explosives. The defendants maintain they were homemade fireworks.

Megahed is awaiting trial on charges of illegally transporting explosives.

Mohamed, 27, an Egyptian student who attended USF, was originally scheduled to be sentenced Friday morning. His sentencing before U.S. District Judge Steven D. Merryday is now set at 8:30 a.m. Dec. 18.

According to sentencing memorandum written by prosecutors and filed this week, Mohamed "reflected a virulent anti-American attitude," called the United States a "vile nation" and was "immersed in the religious ideology and literature of jihad and armed struggle in the Middle East."

Prosecutors say they hope Merryday considers the document during Mohamed's sentencing. Mohamed faces a maximum of 15 years in prison.

Tribune researcher Melanie Coon and information from the Associated Press was contributed to this report. Reporter Ray Reyes can be reached at (813) 259-7920.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT