TAMPA - Attorneys are negotiating a possible plea deal in the case of one of two former University of South Florida students charged with transporting explosives.
Attorneys informed U.S. Magistrate Mark Pizzo that Youssef Megahed may enter into a plea agreement, according to minutes of an unannounced court hearing this afternoon.
"At the present time, there is no agreement to resolve this case by way of plea," said Megahed's attorney, Adam Allen, a federal public defender. "As in any criminal case there's always discussion; there's always plea discussions. ... I can assure that if for some reason we do enter an agreement, there will not be a plea to anything that Mr. Megahed is currently charged with."
Megahed and Ahmed Mohamed, who were both born in Egypt, are charged with illegally transporting explosives. In addition, Mohamed is charged in an indictment with trying to help terrorists by posting on the Internet a video in which he shows how to use a remote-controlled toy to detonate a bomb.
Both defendants are scheduled to go on trial next month, and a hearing is scheduled Tuesday on defense motions to suppress evidence. "We're completely prepared to do the hearing on Tuesday," Allen said. "It is way too early in these discussions to be able to give a likelihood, to give a percentage" on the odds that a plea agreement will be reached.
An attorney for Mohamed, Linda Moreno, attended the hearing by telephone, according to the court minutes. In the event Megahed does reach a plea agreement, she told the judge, she will need more time to prepare for trial, the minutes state. Mohamed's attorneys have asked for a delay in the trial, stating they need more time to prepare.
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