A Kansas City man has pleaded guilty in federal court to sending money to al Qaeda.
Kansas City federal prosecutor Beth Phillips says 32-year-old Khalid Ouzzani, a used car and auto parts dealer, is a Moroccan-born naturalized citizen who admits to sending $23,500 to the terrorist organization in late 2007. Phillips says Ouzzani also admitted in court that he had sworn an oath of allegiance to al Qaeda and intended to join. Prosecutors also charge Ouzzani with attempting to persuade others to fight for al Qaeda in Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia.
A grand jury has indicted Ouzzani on 33 felony counts, including bank fraud, money laundering and interstate fraud while operating Truman Used Auto Parts. He also is charged with Medicaid and food stamp fraud.
“I want to assure the public that at no point prior to his arrest was Ouzzani any threat of causing imminent harm or danger to the citizens of our community,” Phillips says.
Ouzzani remains in federal custody.