He was videotaping skyscrapers. From AP:
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Federal officials have charged a Pakistani citizen with immigration violations and said Tuesday the man was detained last month after being spotted taking videotapes of downtown skyscrapers.
Kamran Akhtar, 36, was arrested July 20 after being taken in for questioning by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officer Anthony Maglione. Charges against him were contained in indictments unsealed in federal court Tuesday.
Akhtar is charged with violating federal immigration and naturalization laws and making a materially false statement, according to a news release by U.S. Attorney Gretchen Shappert.
U.S. District Judge Carl Horn ordered Akhtar held in federal custody at a brief hearing Tuesday morning in federal court; he had been in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
He was being held Tuesday at the Mecklenburg County Jail.
According to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Darrell Stephens, Akhtar told Maglione at the time of his arrest that he was making videotapes for family members.
“This is one that will require more investigation, to determine just what he was doing with these tapes,” Stephens said.