Washington: The father of Afghan immigrant accused of plotting a major terror attack in New York was indicted on Thursday by a court in Denver, Colorado, on the charges of lying to FBI investigators.
"Mohammed Zazi, 53, who is presently residing in Aurora, Colorado, was indicted today (Thursday) by a federal grand jury in Denver for making a false statement in a matter involving international and domestic terrorism," said US Attorney David Gaouette and Denver FBI Special Agent in Charge James Davis.
Presently free on a USD 50,000 unsecured bond, with the condition that he be under electronic monitoring by the court, Zazi is scheduled to appear in US District Court in Denver on Friday.
According to the indictment, on September 16 Mohammed Zazi did knowingly and wilfully made a false, fictitious and fraudulent statement to the FBI agents.
Zazi specifically denied that he spoke with anyone by telephone regarding whether his son Najibullah Zazi was in any trouble, when, in fact, on or about September 11, he did speak by telephone with a person regarding whether Najibullah was in any trouble.
Najibullah is charged with plotting a terror attack in New York. He is being held without bond in New York. He pleaded not guilty to a charge of conspiring to detonate explosives in the United States.
If convicted, Mohammed Zazi faces up to eight years in federal prison, or USD 250,000 fine, or both.
Bureau Report
