“Matanov’s lawyer, Edward Hayden, said the money transfers ‘had nothing to do with terrorism. He was uncomfortable sending all the money in his own name.'” Why? What was the source of that discomfort? What’s more, “Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Garland said Matanov had repeatedly deceived authorities when questioned about his relationship with Tamerlan Tsarnaev in the days after the bombings.” Why, if he was angry about Tsarnaev’s involvement in that jihad attack, and had done nothing to help Tsarnaev?
“Revealed: Boston bombing suspect’s friend wired $71,000 to people in six countries, as judge rules he should remain in jail,” Daily Mail, June 4, 2014:
A friend of Boston Marathon bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev wired more than $71,000 to people in six countries and used fake names several times for the transactions – including while Tsarnaev was on a pilgrimage in Russia, according to prosecutors.
Khairullozhon Matanov, 23, is accused of deleting computer files and lying to agents investigating the 2013 bombings, which killed three and injured more than 260.
Prosecutors accuse the immigrant from Kyrgyzstan of a ‘pattern of deceit’ in dealing with authorities as they investigated the bomb attacks.
At a detention hearing, Matanov waived his right to seek release on bail. His lawyer said Matanov has no family here, lost his job as a cab driver after his indictment last week and has nowhere to go if he were released.
Prosecutors portrayed Matanov as a close friend of Tamerlan Tsarnaev and an acquaintance of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the two brothers authorities say planted two bombs near the marathon’s finish line.
Through the testimony of an FBI agent, they also described a series of money transfers in which they said Matanov often used fake names.
Agent Timothy McElroy said that between 2010 and 2013, Matanov sent more than $71,000 to 15 people in six countries. McElroy said agents determined that most of the money — about $56,590 — was sent to Matanov’s family, while the rest — about $14,800 — went to non-family.
Matanov’s lawyer, Edward Hayden, said the money transfers ‘had nothing to do with terrorism.’
‘He was uncomfortable sending all the money in his own name,’ he said.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Garland said Matanov had repeatedly deceived authorities when questioned about his relationship with Tamerlan Tsarnaev in the days after the bombings. Garland said his “pattern of deceit” was also shown through Matanov’s use of aliases when sending money. He also argued Matanov was a flight risk.
Hayden attempted to show that Matanov cooperated with police.
McElroy acknowledged that Matanov went to police in the Boston suburb of Braintree the morning after the FBI released photographs of the Tsarnaevs and gave them the brothers’ address and phone numbers. That was hours before Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was captured hiding in a boat in Watertown. Tamerlan Tsarnaev was killed in a shootout with police earlier that day.
Hayden said Matanov was angry when he learned the Tsarnaevs were suspects in the bombings.
“He calls them names that you can’t put on TV,” he told reporters.
McElroy said the FBI began following Matanov after he came forward.
McElroy also said that federal prosecutors told Matanov’s attorney to urge his client to stay away from Boston’s July Fourth celebration because “the city was on edge following the marathon bombings.” Matanov was also told to stay away from this year’s marathon on April 21. Hayden said he complied with the requests.
In his interview with Braintree police, Matanov said he was surprised to learn the Tsarnaevs were suspects in the bombings.
“I can’t believe it, I can’t believe that happened with them … they were nice people, like the way they talk,” Matanov told a detective, according to a transcript released Wednesday.
Prosecutors say Matanov called Tamerlan Tsarnaev about 40 minutes after the bombings and invited him to dinner. Hayden said the men talked about the bombings during dinner “like everyone else discussed the bombings,” but that the Tsarnaevs did not reveal anything about their alleged role in the attack.
mariam rove says
Khairullozhon Matanov, 23…. How does a 23 year old get this kind of money in the first place is the question. M
john spielman says
why from Saudi Arabia, via our petrodollars of course!!!
SaturnV says
My thought exactly. And while working as a cab driver, no less.
BW022 says
Obvious questions…
(a) Where does one get that kind of money? That is over $23,000 per year. I doubt you can live in Boston for less than $25,000 a year. So… that means he is making over $70,000 a year (if you factor in taxes). The median salary for a taxi driver in the United States is $34,400 and only $35,167 in Boston. 90% of taxi drivers in Boston earn less than $49,998.
(b) Why type of immigrant? Taxi-driver… that doesn’t sound like any skilled worker, so I’m assuming he doesn’t have a green card via work or investment. Marriage? Otherwise, what is someone with $70k doing in the Green Card lottery?
(c) Why doesn’t the reporter or the lawyers ask these question?
dumbledoresarmy says
He hasn’t taken out US citizenship, thank God.
Points for US jihadwatchers to make, in letters to their elected representatives:
1/ Once this creep is convicted, and once he’s served his time…DEPORT HIM!
2/ In order to drastically cut down on future trouble and expense of this sort, or worse…DON’T import any more Muslims from Kyrgyzstan or from anywhere else.
3/ DO NOT grant either Citizenship or permanent residency to any identifiable Muslim, already present on US soil. When their current visas run out, out they go.
Oliver says
I respectfully disagree that deport him after he serves his sentence.
DEPORT HIM NOW, and save time, trouble and costs.
And, perhaps, he will be killed when he gets to whatever sh– hole he goes to, for being ( thought of as) a collaborator or anything else these twisted minds can think of.