Mohammad Ibrahim Bazzi pleads guilty to violating Treasury Department rules in Brooklyn federal court.
Mohammad Ibrahim Bazzi, a dual citizen of Lebanon and Belgium, has been involved in funneling money to Hezbollah, a militia group backed by Iran and based in Lebanon. Due to his ties to Hezbollah, the U.S. Treasury Department designated him as a terrorist, prohibiting any business transactions with him in the United States.
In a recent development, Mr. Bazzi, 60, pleaded guilty in a Brooklyn federal court to conspiring to conduct unlawful transactions involving a specially designated global terrorist. He admitted to using a fake franchise agreement to obtain money from restaurants in Michigan, where he had a secret ownership stake, in an attempt to evade the sanctions imposed on him.
The charge Mr. Bazzi pleaded guilty to carries a potential fine of up to $1 million and a maximum prison sentence of 20 years. However, based on federal guidelines, he is likely to face a sentencing range of 37 to 46 months in prison. The scheme originated in 2006 when his co-defendant, Talal Khalil Chahine, fled the United States after allegedly skimming $20 million in restaurant proceeds and sending it to Lebanon, leading to legal actions against his investments in Michigan.
This case highlights the ongoing efforts to combat terrorism financing and the legal consequences for individuals involved in such activities. The guilty plea by Mr. Bazzi underscores the severity of violating sanctions and engaging in unlawful financial transactions, particularly with designated terrorist organizations like Hezbollah.
Source: The NY Times
