BY MICHAEL WEBSTER: Syndicated Investigative Reporter. Fri Jan 16, 2009 10:30 AM PST.

Two Chicago cousins have pleaded guilty in Toledo, Ohio to conspiring to help with a plot to murder U.S. soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Khaleel Ahmed, 28, and Zubair Ahmed, 29, each pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists in connection with their efforts. It was a further part of the conspiracy that the defendants sought and obtained instruction, information, materials and advice regarding weapons, tactics, counter-surveillance, and related topics, from multiple sources, including but not limited to communicating with likeminded individual terrorist for the purpose of sharing and applying such information.

They traveled abroad in order to murder or "maim" U.S. military, according to a release from the Dept. of Justice. Both men pleaded guilty before Chief U.S. District Judge James G. Carr in Toledo.

The criminal conspiracy involving the men began in April 1, 2004 and continued until their arrests on Feb. 21, 2007.

According to court records, Zubair and Khaleem Ahmed both traveled to Cairo, Egypt on May 21, 2004 with the intent to engage in acts that would result in the murder or maiming of U.S. forces.

After their return from Egypt, both men discussed, sought and received instruction on firearms from another person in Cleveland. The men also sought training in counter-surveillance techniques and sniper rifles, court records indicated.

It was a further part of the conspiracy that the defendants attempted to conceal

the conspiracy and their activities in furtherance of the conspiracy by making false statements, including omitting material facts, to government agents and officials.

It was a further part of the conspiracy that the defendants used coded or discreet

communications, spoke in a foreign language, and employed other counter-surveillance techniques for the purpose of concealing the conspiracy and their activities.

The men also collected and distributed videos of attacks on U.S. military forces overseas, manuals on military tactics and military manuals on weaponry.

ZUBAIR communicated and conspired with others from Toledo, Ohio, regarding a proposed business strategy involving anaerobic composting and renewable waste management. The business plan indicated that it would be a income-producing enterprise, and was subsequently offered by ZUBAIR and KHALEEL as a cover story for their trip to Egypt and other activities.

 

On or about July 3, 2004, ZUBAIR, KHALEEL along with a separately indicted co-conspirator traveled from Chicago, Illinois to a convention in Cleveland. The separately indicted co-conspirator introduced them to an individual with a military background who could provide them with weapons, tactical, and other military-style training.

This individual, was a government undercover informant and a cooperating

witness identified only as “the Trainer.”  

Both men face up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, along with three years of supervised release.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force in Chicago and Toledo, Ohio, along with assistance from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; the Chicago Police Department; Illinois State Police; the Ohio Highway Patrol; the Toledo Police Department and the Lucas and Wood County Sheriff's departments.

Ahmed Indictment

Editors Note:

 

Michael Webster’s Syndicated Investigative Reports are read worldwide, in 100 or more U.S. outlets and in at least 136 countries and territories. He has published articles for Maxims News, which is associated with MediaChannel.org and Globalvision News Network, global news and media information services with more than 350 news affiliates in 135 countries. Many of Mr. Webster’s articles are printed in six working languages: English, French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Spanish. With ten more languages planed in the near future.

Mr. Webster is America's leading authority on Venture Capital/Equity Funding. A trustee on some of the nations largest trade Union funds. A noted Author, Lecturer, Educator, Emergency Manager, Counter-Terrorist, War on Drugs and War on Terrorist Specialist, Business Consultant, Newspaper Publisher. Radio News caster. Labor Law generalist, Teamster Union Business Agent, General Organizer, Union Rank and File Member Grievances Representative, NLRB Union Representative, Union Contract Negotiator, Workers Compensation Appeals Board Hearing Representative. Mr. Webster publishes the on-line newspaper the Laguna Journal and does investigative reports for print, electronic and on-line News Agencies. Click on or Google Michael Webster’s other writings.