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Megahed set for immigration hearing, family says

Tribune file photo by JASON BEHNKEN

Youssef Megahed was arrested last week on immigration charges, three days after a federal jury found him not guilty of criminal explosives charges.

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By ELAINE SILVESTRINI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: April 13, 2009

TAMPA - Youssef Megahed has a hearing Tuesday before a Miami immigration judge, his father and brother said today.

Megahed was arrested last week on immigration charges, three days after a federal jury found him not guilty of criminal explosives charges. He is being held in a detention center in Glades County, his family said.

Family members drove to Orlando today to meet with an immigration lawyer and are deciding whom to hire. Megahed's father and brother, Samir and Yahia, said they hope to have a decision by Tuesday.

They said Youssef will ask the immigration judge to delay his hearing for a week to give him time to hire an attorney. Tuesday's hearing is to be held via videoconference between Megahed at the detention facility and the judge in Miami.

Megahed's family met with him for two hours Sunday and found him in good spirits.

"He's doing well," Yahia Megahed said. "He's hopeful that this will be over soon."

But that may not be possible, Samir Megahed said.

"All the lawyers told us the immigration case is an endless case," he said.

Originally from Egypt, the Megaheds have been in the United States for more than 11 years. They are legal permanent residents and have pending applications for U.S. citizenship.

The Megaheds said they hope to meet with Florida's two senators and local members of Congress to see whether someone can intervene on Youssef's behalf.

Megahed first was arrested Aug. 4, 2007, in South Carolina when he and his friend Ahmed Mohamed were pulled over for speeding about seven miles from a military base. Mohamed was driving; the friends said they were taking a trip to beaches of the Southeast.

Deputies said they found pipe bombs in the trunk.

The FBI later said the devices – 4-inch PVC pipes stuffed with a mixture of potassium chloride and sugar – were "low explosives," not pipe bombs. An expert said they were capable of being converted into destructive devices when paired with a partially filled gasoline can that was also in the trunk.

Megahed's attorneys said he didn't know Mohamed had placed the items in the trunk, and that they were merely homemade model rocket motors.

Jurors acquitted Megahed on April 3 after a more than two-week trial.

Mohamed is serving 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to helping terrorists by posting a video on YouTube showing how to use a remote-controlled toy to detonate a bomb. As part of his plea deal, prosecutors dismissed the charges against him relating to the items in the trunk.

Reporter Elaine Silvestrini can be reached at (813) 259-7837.

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