September 20, 2004

Ohio Muslim cleric sentenced for hiding ties to terror groups

From WCHS-TV, with thanks to Jeffrey Imm:

The head of Ohio's largest mosque has been sentenced to two months in prison and four months' house arrest for lying about ties to alleged terrorist groups.

The Palestinian-born Imam Fawaz Damra was convicted in June of one count of obtaining U-S citizenship by providing false information....

Damra was facing maximum sentence of five years in prison, however federal sentencing guidelines for first-time offenders call for a sentence ranging from probation to six months in prison.

US District Judge James Gwin did not rule on prosecutors' request that he immediately revoke Damra's rights as a US citizen.... Gwin says Damra can start serving his sentence after the Muslim holiday of Ramadan ends in November.