Iraq Native Pleads Guilty In Arms Case

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Iraq Native Pleads Guilty In Arms Case
- Tennessean
A Nashville man accused of making a threat about "going jihad" pleaded guilty June 2nd to federal weapons charges and faces up to a 57-month prison sentence. Iraqi-born Ahmed Hassan Al-Uqaily, 34, was arrested in October on charges of illegal possession of machine guns and possession of unregistered firearms. Al-Uqaily arranged for the $1,000 purchase of two disassembled M-16 machine guns, hundreds of rounds of machine gun ammunition and the components for four hand grenades from an undercover agent, according to the plea agreement.

He had expressed animosity toward the Jewish community and, though he gave no indication of specific plans, had discussed two Jewish facilities in the Nashville area, the plea agreement says.

The two weapons charges are punishable by 10 years' imprisonment each and tens of thousands of dollars in fines.

Along with the prison time, Al-Uqaily has agreed to deportation and forfeiture of about $38,000 from a U.S. bank account, but retains $5,000 under a civil settlement involving the money.

"The government's claim was that the account was used in the act of international terrorism," Assistant U.S. Attorney Eli Richardson told The Associated Press.

Defense attorney David Baker was traveling yesterday afternoon and could not be reached.

Baker declined to comment to The Associated Press.

A friend of Al-Uqaily testified in October that he was a peaceful and generous man who approached his work as a Krispy Kreme doughnut shop technician with diligence.

The deportation falls under the authority of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

"As an Iraqi native, Iraq would be at the top of the list of possibilities," Richardson said.

Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 24. Al-Uqaily has been held in Metro's jail since his arrest.

Time served up until his sentencing would count toward his sentence, Richardson said. http://www.gallatinnewsexaminer.com/.../1085/ARCHIVES

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