Monday, November 26, 2012
California man accused in plot to join al Qaeda denied bail
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By Dana Feldman

RIVERSIDE, California (Reuters) - A California man accused alongside three co-defendants of conspiring to provide support to al Qaeda and Taliban militants plotting attacks against Americans overseas was ordered held without bail on Monday by a federal judge.

Arifeen David Gojali, 21, was arrested with two others last week outside a southern California apartment complex by authorities who said the trio had imminent plans to travel to Afghanistan via Mexico and Turkey to prepare for "violent jihad."

A fourth man, accused ringleader Sohiel Omar Kabir, 34, was apprehended in Afghanistan and remains in custody there, according to the FBI.

"I specifically find that the defendant poses a serious risk of flight and a danger and the defense has not rebutted to the contrary," U.S. Magistrate Judge Sheri Pym said in ordering Gojali jailed without bond.

Defense attorneys did not contest Pym's ruling during proceedings in U.S. District Court in Riverside, 60 miles east of Los Angeles, and said outside court that Gojali and his family could not afford to post bond.

"When you can't get over that hurdle, there's nothing you can do," attorney John Aquilina said of his client, who was escorted into court by U.S. Marshals wearing an orange jail jumpsuit and shackled at the waist.

The four defendants, all U.S. citizens or permanent residents, are charged with conspiring to provide material support to terrorists.

Kabir, the accused ringleader, is charged with recruiting co-defendants Ralph Deleon, 23, and Miguel Alejandro Santana Vidriales, 21, who converted to Islam under his tutelage. Those two are in turn alleged to have enlisted Gojali. Continued...

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