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| Accused Hezbollah financier expected to plead guilty in US sanctions evasion case |
| 2024-09-06 |
| [IsraelTimes] Prosecutors say Mohammad Bazzi sold real estate in Michigan, then transferred funds abroad; ask judge for hearing this month to facilitate change of plea A dual Lebanese-Belgian citizen accused by the United States of financing Lebanese terror group Hezbollah is expected to plead guilty in a criminal case charging him with sanctions evasion and money-laundering conspiracies. Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn said in a court filing on Thursday that lawyers for Mohammad Bazzi told them he wishes to change his plea. Bazzi, 60, pleaded not guilty "Wudn't me." last year to three felony counts, including attempting to transact with a sanctioned terrorist organization. Bazzi’s lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The US Treasury Department placed Bazzi on its sanctions list in 2018 over his alleged ties to Hezbollah, which Washington considers a terrorist organization. Prosecutors said Bazzi covertly sold real estate he owned in Michigan and transferred the funds abroad, in violation of those sanctions. Bazzi was extradited to the US in April 2023 from Romania, where he had been arrested two months prior. Mohammad Ibrahim Bazzi has funneled millions of dollars to the terrorist organization Hizballah. Prosecutors and Bazzi’s lawyers jointly asked US District Judge Dora Irizarry to schedule a hearing later this month for Bazzi to change his plea. Guess he's been watching Hunter. Related: Mohammad Bazzi 04/27/2023 Key Hezbollah financier, a ‘global terrorist,’ faces charges in New York Mohammad Bazzi 02/25/2023 Key Hezbollah financier, ‘global terrorist’ arrested in Bucharest Mohammad Bazzi 04/25/2019 US targets two men, three firms for helping Hezbollah avoid sanctions, revokes Lebanese visas |
| Posted by:trailing wife |