TAMPA: An Egyptian man studying at a Florida university pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges of transporting explosives across state lines in a case where another student is also accused of making an internet video showing how to use remote-controlled toys to detonate bombs.
Youssef Samir Megahed and Ahmed Abdellatif Sherif Mohamed – both University of South Florida students from Egypt – were arrested during an Aug. 5 traffic stop in South Carolina. In the trunk of the 2000 Toyota Camry, according an FBI agent s statement, police found 6 meters of fuse, a box of .22-caliber bullets, a drill, several gallons (liters) of gasoline, PVC piping and gun powder.
Megahed entered his plea Wednesday. Mohamed, who was also indicted on a charge of distributing information relating to explosives, destructive devices, and weapons of mass destruction, will be arraigned on Oct. 17.
A prominent Florida defense attorney said in court that he will likely be retained by the Egyptian government to represent Mohamed.
John Fitzgibbons is best known as the attorney who represented Florida middle school teacher Debra Lafave who is serving a three-year house arrest sentence after pleading guilty to having sex with a 14-year-old student – a case that provided endless fodder for tabloids.
Ahmed El-Qawassni, an official in Egypt s Foreign Ministry, said the government is closely monitoring the case and confirmed that an attorney is being hired for Mohamed. He did not identify the attorney.
We are responsible for the sons of Egypt abroad with no exception, El-Qawassni said.
Fitzgibbons said Mohamed would also plead not guilty.
Authorities said they found on Mohamed s laptop a video he made demonstrating how to convert a remote controlled toy into an explosives detonator.
Mohamed told authorities he made the video to assist those persons in Arabic countries to defend themselves against the infidels invading their countries, according to the agent s statement.
Mohamed said he considered American troops, and those military forces fighting with the American military, to be invaders of Arab countries, the statement said.
The video was uploaded to YouTube, according to court documents, but it was not clear whether it was ever publicly viewed.
The students told authorities they were carrying fireworks; Megahed s attorney now contends that he did not know anything about the items in the trunk.
The students have told family and attorneys that they were on their way to a North Carolina beach and that they ended up in Goose Creek, near a naval weapons station, because they were looking for cheap gas.
If convicted, Megahed faces up to 10 years in prison. Mohamed could be sentenced to up to 30 years.
After the hearing, Fitzgibbons said he had not seen all the evidence and declined to discuss the case. Associated Press
