From The Tribune staff reports
BIRMINGHAM — A former Alabama resident was sentenced Wednesday, April 28, for concealing the transmission of funds to be provided as material support to al Qaeda.
The plea agreement states that between February and April 2018, Abusaad instructed an FBI undercover employee (UCE) about how to send money to mujahedeen—fighters engaged in jihad. Abusaad told the UCE that money “…is always needed. You can’t have a war without weapons. You can’t prepare a soldier without equipment.” Abusaad also advised the UCE on how to send money that would avoid detection by law enforcement, including by using fake names and addresses when conducting electronic money transfers. Subsequently, Abusaad introduced the UCE to a financial facilitator who could route the UCE’s money to “brothers that work with aq” (meaning al Qaeda).
Abusaad pleaded guilty to the charge in September 2019.
The story will be updated when more information is available.