MEMPHIS: An Egyptian immigrant who raised government fears about possible terrorist plans but was not charged with terrorism was sentenced instead Friday to 13 months in prison for fraud.
Mahmoud Maawad, a 29-year-old former University of Memphis student, pleaded guilty last month to one count of wire fraud and one count of fraudulent use of a Social Security number.
Maawad has been in federal custody since he was arrested in September on charges of using a depleted bank account to make purchases over the Internet. He also was charged with using a fake Social Security number to enroll at the University of Memphis, where he was a student when arrested.
He drew the attention of federal authorities when a search of his apartment turned up DVDs on pilot training and charts on the layout of the Memphis airport. One of the DVDs was titled How an Airline Captain Should Look and Act.
Authorities have refused to talk about their investigation of Maawad but court records showed that investigators believed he may have been planning a terrorist act. No evidence of direct links to terrorism was presented in court.
Maawad pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining merchandise through Internet orders to Sporty s U.S.A., a company that sells aviation related training materials and equipment.
Because he had been held without bond until sentencing, Maawad will not have to serve the full 13 months, but he will be deported after his prison term, according to the U.S. Attorney s office in Memphis.
Maawad, who had been held without bond until sentencing, could be deported after his prison term. Authorities say he has been in the United States illegally since 1999, when his visitor s visa expired. AP
