Scary Egyptian Fake Pilot Arrested, U.S.
Is Mahmoud Maawad, 29, a terrorist looking to duplicate the suicide missions of 9/11? Or just a pilot-wannabe with a passion for flying small planes?
Maawad, who is in the United States illegally, is held until trial after prosecutors said they found a pilot's uniform, chart of Memphis International Airport and a DVD titled "How an Airline Captain Should Look and Act" in his apartment.
The FBI is investigating whether the University of Memphis student have any connection to terrorists. He is awaiting trial on charges of wire fraud and fraudulent use of a Social Security number.
"The specific facts and circumstances are scary," said assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Parker.
"It is hard for the court to understand why he has a large concentration of those (aviation) items, and nothing else to indicate Mr. Maawad plans to stay in the community," U.S. magistrate judge S. Thomas Anderson said.
The airport-related items were found during a Sept. 9 search. Since June, Maawad ordered $3,300 of merchandise over the Internet from Sporty’s Pilot Shop in San Diego, including a private pilot course, flight simulator software, a flight gear bag, several DVDs, a $239 Navy leather flight jacket, a $19.95 DVD on “How an Airline Captain Should Look and Act,” and instructional programs on “airplane talk.”
After purchasing approximately $2,500 worth of merchandise, Maawad’s debit card was rejected by Sporty’s for lack of funds and his last three orders were not filled. Agents are in the process of examining his computer hard drive.
Maawad was also cited on March 11, 2005, by Memphis police for selling alcohol to a minor.
Links: Memphis Flyer, Washington Post h/t: Michelle
Maawad, who is in the United States illegally, is held until trial after prosecutors said they found a pilot's uniform, chart of Memphis International Airport and a DVD titled "How an Airline Captain Should Look and Act" in his apartment.
The FBI is investigating whether the University of Memphis student have any connection to terrorists. He is awaiting trial on charges of wire fraud and fraudulent use of a Social Security number.
"The specific facts and circumstances are scary," said assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Parker.
"It is hard for the court to understand why he has a large concentration of those (aviation) items, and nothing else to indicate Mr. Maawad plans to stay in the community," U.S. magistrate judge S. Thomas Anderson said.
The airport-related items were found during a Sept. 9 search. Since June, Maawad ordered $3,300 of merchandise over the Internet from Sporty’s Pilot Shop in San Diego, including a private pilot course, flight simulator software, a flight gear bag, several DVDs, a $239 Navy leather flight jacket, a $19.95 DVD on “How an Airline Captain Should Look and Act,” and instructional programs on “airplane talk.”
After purchasing approximately $2,500 worth of merchandise, Maawad’s debit card was rejected by Sporty’s for lack of funds and his last three orders were not filled. Agents are in the process of examining his computer hard drive.
Maawad was also cited on March 11, 2005, by Memphis police for selling alcohol to a minor.
Links: Memphis Flyer, Washington Post h/t: Michelle
posted by ritzy @ 12:45 am
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