Long Island Man Pleads Guilty in Manhattan Federal Court to Engaging in Hawala Activity That Funded Attempted Times Square Bombing

PREET BHARARA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that MOHAMMAD YOUNIS pled guilty today in Manhattan federal court to operating an unlicensed money transfer business between the United States and Pakistan. One of the money transfers was used to fund the May 1, 2010, attempted car bombing in New York City’s Times Square by FAISAL SHAHZAD who is serving a life sentence in federal prison. YOUNIS pled guilty before U.S. District Judge JOHN F. KEENAN.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney PREET BHARARA stated: “This case should send a clear message that we will not leave a stone unturned in our investigations of terrorists and how they get the money to finance their plots. Mohammed Younis engaged in illegal activity that, although unbeknownst to him, facilitated the funding of a potentially lethal attack in New York City. He was apprehended by law enforcement and as a result, a possible funding stream for terror attacks is now a dry well.”

According to the indictment previously filed in this case, other court filings, and statements made during today’s guilty plea proceeding:

From January to May 2010, YOUNIS provided money transmitting services to individuals in the New York City area by assisting in the operation of a “hawala,” a type of informal value transfer system in which money does not physically cross international boundaries through the banking system. In the hawala system, funds are transferred by customers to a hawala operator, or “hawaladar,” in one country, and corresponding funds, less any fees, are disbursed to recipients in another country by hawaladar associates on that end.

On April 10, 2010, YOUNIS engaged in two separate hawala transactions with customers who traveled from Connecticut and New Jersey to meet with him in Long Island. In each of the transactions, YOUNIS provided thousands of dollars in cash to the individuals at the direction of a co-conspirator in Pakistan, but without knowledge of how the customers were planning to use the funds. At no time did YOUNIS have the license to operate a money transmitting business from either state or federal authorities.

One of the individuals to whom YOUNIS provided money was SHAHZAD, who, on June 21, 2010, pled guilty to a ten-count indictment charging him with crimes relating to his attempt to detonate a car bomb in Times Square on May 1, 2010. During the course of his plea allocution, SHAHZAD acknowledged receiving a cash payment in April 2010 in the United States to fund his preparations for the May 1, 2010, attempted bombing. According to SHAHZAD, the April cash payment was arranged in Pakistan by associates of the Tehrik-e-Taliban, the militant extremist group based in Pakistan that trained him to make and use explosive devices.

On September 15, 2010, YOUNIS was arrested at his Long Island residence by agents of the New York Joint Terrorism Task Force (“JTTF”).

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YOUNIS, 45, of Long Island, New York, pled guilty to one count of conducting an unlicensed money transmitting business. He faces a maximum term of five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 or double the gain or loss arising from his conduct. In addition, he agreed to forfeit $12,000 to the United States. He is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge KEENAN on November 30, 2011, at 3:15 p.m.

Mr. BHARARA praised the investigative efforts of the JTTF in New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, especially those JTTF members from the FBI and the NYPD. He also expressed his gratitude to the trial attorneys with the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Security Division.

This case is being handled by the Office’s Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys JEFFREY BROWN, JOHN P. CRONAN, BRENDAN R. MCGUIRE, and RANDALL W. JACKSON are in charge of the prosecution.

Times Square Investigation: The Criminal Complaint

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Charges Faisal Shahzad with Attempted Car Bombing in Times Square


PREET BHARARA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, GEORGE VENIZELOS, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI"), and RAYMOND W. KELLY, the Police Commissioner of the City of New York, announced that FAISAL SHAHZAD was charged today with attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction, acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries, and other federal crimes for allegedly driving a car bomb into Times Square on the evening of May 1, 2010. SHAHZAD, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Pakistan, was taken into custody at John F. Kennedy International Airport on May 3, 2010, after he was identified by the Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Customs and Border Protection while attempting to leave the United States by means of a commercial flight to Dubai.

According to the Complaint filed today in Manhattan federal court:

In April 2010, SHAHZAD contacted the seller of a Nissan Pathfinder after seeing an advertisement posted on a website. Thereafter, on April 24, 2010, SHAHZAD and the seller of the Pathfinder agreed to meet in a supermarket parking lot in Connecticut, where SHAHZAD paid the seller $1300 for the Pathfinder.

On May 1, 2010, a Pathfinder was discovered, abandoned, on the street in Times Square. Inside the Pathfinder were multiple, filled propane tanks, gasoline canisters, and fertilizer—as well as fireworks, clocks, wiring, and other items, including a key to an Isuzu and residential keys. When emergency services workers arrived on the scene, the Pathfinder was visibly smoking. The items in the back of the Pathfinder were smoldering; it appeared that the occupant of the Pathfinder had attempted to initiate an explosion. Hours later, when lawenforcement officers entered the Pathfinder, a number of keys were recovered, including a key to an Isuzu automobile.

Over the past few days, the investigation has revealed that SHAHZAD bought the Pathfinder with cash on April 24, 2010; that he drove an Isuzu; and that one of the keys in the Pathfinder opened the door to SHAHZAD's Connecticut residence. In addition, and among other things, the investigation has revealed that SHAHZAD used a pre-paid cellular telephone—which has not been used since April 28—both to call a fireworks store and to receive a series of calls from Pakistan following his purchase of the Pathfinder.

After his arrest, SHAHZAD stated that he had recently received bomb-making training in Waziristan, Pakistan. In addition, SHAHZAD admitted that he had brought the Pathfinder to Times Square—and attempted there to detonate it. SHAHZAD also noted that he had driven a particular car to John F. Kennedy International Airport on May 3, 2010, and stated that the car contained a gun. Law enforcement officers then identified SHAHZAD's car and located a gun inside.

SHAHZAD is charged with one count of use of weapons of mass destruction, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; one count of acts of terrorism transcending national boundaries, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; one count of use of a destructive device in connection with a crime of violence, which carries a consecutive mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in prison; one count of transporting and receiving explosives, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; and one count of damaging and destroying property by means of fire and explosives, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

SHAHZAD, 30, resides in Shelton, Connecticut.

U.S. Attorney PREET BHARARA stated: "I would like to thank the ordinary and alert Americans, who first sounded the alarm upon observing the startling sight of a smoking Nissan Pathfinder in the middle of Manhattan last Saturday night. As a result of a lot of good old-fashioned police work, that smoking car turned into the smoking gun that led to the capture of Faisal Shahzad, who allegedly put a bullseye on Times Square, which lies at the heart of our city and the crossroads of the world. This Office, with all of the agencies who work hand-in-glove, day after day, on the Joint Terrorism Task Force, will not rest until every last terrorist is neutralized and held to account."

FBI Special Agent-in-Charge GEORGE VENIZELOS said: "The FBI and our partners have the primary responsibility for preventing and apprehending those who would do us harm. The agents and officers who brought about the swift and safe resolution of the Times Square incident are to be commended for their diligence and determination. Faisal Shahzad now faces the grim prospect of a future in prison. But this fast-breaking investigation shows the paramount importance of ordinary people being vigilant while going about their lives. In an open society, the rule of law and the preservation of liberty depend on everyone."

Police Commissioner RAYMOND W. KELLY stated: "New York can breathe a little easier today. That's due in large measure to the investigative muscle and alacrity of NYPD detectives and FBI agents, not to mention the eagle-eyed customs personnel on duty last night at JFK. I also want to commend United States Attorney Preet Bharara and his able assistants. They worked closely with the NYPD, not only in this case, but in prosecuting many others to make certain that criminals in the Southern District of New York face justice. The NYPD bomb squad risked their lives to dismantle a lethal assembly that turned the pathfinder into one big hurt locker. While we can all breath a little easier, we have to stay vigilant because in the eyes of terrorists, New York is America, and they keep coming back to kill us."

Mr. BHARARA praised the investigative efforts of the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) in New York and Connecticut, especially those JTTF members from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York City Police Department. Mr. BHARARA thanked the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol for their assistance. He also expressed his gratitude to the trial attorneys with the United States Department of Justice's National Security Division, as well as the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut.

Assistant United States Attorneys BRENDAN R. MCGUIRE, RANDALL W. JACKSON, and JOHN P. CRONAN from the Office's Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Arrest in the Times Square Investigation

Statement of the U.s. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the New York City Police Department on an Arrest in the Times Square Investigation


"At approximately 11:45 P.M. EDT, Faisal Shahzad was taken into custody. Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and detectives of the New York City Police Department arrested Shahzad for allegedly driving a car bomb into Times Square on the evening of May 1, 2010. Shahzad, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Pakistan, was taken into custody at John F. Kennedy International Airport after he was identified by the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Customs and Border Protection while attempting to take a flight to Dubai.

The defendant will appear in Manhattan federal court (500 Pearl Street, 5th Floor, New York, N.Y.) on May 4, 2010, at a currently undetermined time to be presented on formal charges. No further details are available at this time.

We applaud the collective work of the New York Joint Terrorism Task Force and the prosecutors and investigators in the Southern District of New York, who have worked around-the-clock for the last two days in this investigation. We would also like to recognize the diligent work of the Customs and Border Protection agents and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut.

The investigation remains very much ongoing, and the dedicated agents, detectives, and prosecutors on this case will continue to follow every lead and use every tool to keep the people of New York City safe. We will not rest until every terrorist, whether homegrown or foreign-based, is neutralized and held to account," said United States Attorney Preet Bharara, FBI Special Agent-in-Charge George Venizelos, and New York City Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly.

Times Square Investigation

Statement of Attorney General Eric Holder on the Times Square Investigation


May 4, 2010 - Earlier this evening, Faisal Shahzad was arrested in connection with the attempted car bombing in New York on Saturday. Mr. Shahzad, an American citizen, was taken into custody at JFK Airport in New York as he attempted to board a flight to Dubai.

Since this plot was first uncovered on Saturday night, the FBI, prosecutors and intelligence lawyers in the National Security Division of the Justice Department and the U.S. Attorneys Offices in Manhattan and Connecticut, along with the NYPD have worked night and day to find out who was responsible for what would have been a deadly attack had it been successful. Over the course of the day today, we have gathered significant additional evidence that led to tonight’s arrest, which was made by agents from Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection.

This investigation is ongoing, as are our attempts to gather useful intelligence, and we continue to pursue a number of leads. But it’s clear that the intent behind this terrorist act was to kill Americans.

FBI agents are working with their state and local counterparts in New York, Connecticut and other jurisdictions to gather evidence and intelligence related to this case. We are also coordinating with other members of the President’s national security team to ensure we use every resource available to the United States to bring anyone responsible to justice.

We continue to gather leads in this investigation, and it’s important that the American people remain vigilant. The vehicle in Times Square was first noticed on Saturday by a citizen who reported it to authorities, and, as always, any American who notices suspicious activity should report it to the appropriate law enforcement agencies.

This investigation is ongoing, it is multi-faceted, and it is aggressive. As we move forward, we will focus on not just holding those responsible for it accountable, but also on obtaining any intelligence about terrorist organizations overseas.

Because of the fast-moving nature of this investigation, I am not able to make any further information public at this time. But the American people should know that we are deploying every resource available, and we will not rest until we have brought everyone responsible to justice.