Adam's Apple
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- Apr 25, 2004
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U.S.: Russia Trained Greenfield Man to Spy
By Vic Ryckaert, The Indianapolis Star
March 5, 2005
A Greenfield truck driver accused of offering to sell the names of U.S. intelligence agents to the Iraqi government received espionage training in Russia about 30 years ago, authorities say.
Court documents released Friday in the case of Shaaban Hafiz Ahmad Ali Shaaban also reveal that the Jordanian native had five passports and used several Social Security numbers. Shaaban, 52, was arrested Thursday. He is scheduled to appear for a detention hearing Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Kennard Foster.
A federal grand jury this week indicted Shaaban on charges of conspiracy, acting illegally as a foreign agent, violating sanctions against Iraq, unlawful procurement of identification documents and unlawful procurement of naturalization. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison, $250,000 in fines and deportation.
While many questions about Shaaban remain unanswered, an espionage expert said he appears to have foreign support. "It sounds like he was under some kind of deep cover," said Edward B. Atkeson, a senior fellow at the Arlington, Va.--based Institute of Land Warfare and a former chief of Army intelligence in Europe. "He's got some professional backing. He couldn't have built that kind of background and documentation by himself."
U.S. Attorney Susan Brooks and FBI spokeswoman Wendy Osborne would not disclose how Shaaban came under suspicion or what methods were used to build a case against him. The indictment hints that wiretaps were used, noting that Shaaban had communicated by telephone and facsimile with Iraqi intelligence officers.
Brooks' office is seeking to have Shaaban detained until his trial. Documents released Friday cite his numerous aliases and state that Shaaban has threatened to harm anyone who turned him in.
for full story http://www.indystar.com/articles/4/227067-5854-092.html
By Vic Ryckaert, The Indianapolis Star
March 5, 2005
A Greenfield truck driver accused of offering to sell the names of U.S. intelligence agents to the Iraqi government received espionage training in Russia about 30 years ago, authorities say.
Court documents released Friday in the case of Shaaban Hafiz Ahmad Ali Shaaban also reveal that the Jordanian native had five passports and used several Social Security numbers. Shaaban, 52, was arrested Thursday. He is scheduled to appear for a detention hearing Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Kennard Foster.
A federal grand jury this week indicted Shaaban on charges of conspiracy, acting illegally as a foreign agent, violating sanctions against Iraq, unlawful procurement of identification documents and unlawful procurement of naturalization. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison, $250,000 in fines and deportation.
While many questions about Shaaban remain unanswered, an espionage expert said he appears to have foreign support. "It sounds like he was under some kind of deep cover," said Edward B. Atkeson, a senior fellow at the Arlington, Va.--based Institute of Land Warfare and a former chief of Army intelligence in Europe. "He's got some professional backing. He couldn't have built that kind of background and documentation by himself."
U.S. Attorney Susan Brooks and FBI spokeswoman Wendy Osborne would not disclose how Shaaban came under suspicion or what methods were used to build a case against him. The indictment hints that wiretaps were used, noting that Shaaban had communicated by telephone and facsimile with Iraqi intelligence officers.
Brooks' office is seeking to have Shaaban detained until his trial. Documents released Friday cite his numerous aliases and state that Shaaban has threatened to harm anyone who turned him in.
for full story http://www.indystar.com/articles/4/227067-5854-092.html
