Trial begins for man feds say was Hezbollah 'sleeper' agent

[The Bobster]

https://nypost.com/2019/05/07/trial-begins-for-man-feds-say-was-hezbollah-sleeper-agent/

Trial begins for man feds say was Hezbollah ‘sleeper’ agent
By Andrew Denney
May 7, 2019 | 7:15pm

A Bronx man who is accused of working as a deep-cover “sleeper” agent for Hezbollah — appearing to lead an otherwise normal life while secretly conducting surveillance on New York City-area airports and military installations — went to trial this week.

Federal prosecutors say that from 2009 to 2015, the Lebanon-born Ali Kourani, 34, ran surveillance on military and intelligence facilities in anticipation of an attack from the Islamic Jihad Organization, an arm of Hezbollah.

The feds also allege that, in 2011, Kournai took a trip to Lebanon to receive weapons and combat training.

According to court papers, Kourani immigrated to the United States legally in 2003. He obtained a degree in biomedical engineering from the City University of New York in 2009 and later obtained an MBA.

Kourani had attempted to become an informant for the FBI, court papers state — he agreed to sit down with agents for five interviews with hopes that he could give up information in exchange for financial support and immigration benefits for his relatives.

In one of his interviews, Kournai boasted that his family was akin to the “Bin Ladens of Lebanon.”

But the feds say they made him no promises to Kournai for the information he provided and instead arrested him in 2017.

Kournai’s interviews with the FBI will be presented to the jury at his trial, which is being conducted in Manhattan federal court.

If convicted, Kourani could face a maximum penalty of life in prison. His trial is expected to last about one week and feature testimony from about ten law-enforcement witnesses.

 

[The Bobster]

https://nypost.com/2019/05/16/former-uggs-salesman-found-guilty-of-being-hezbollah-sleeper-agent/

Former Uggs salesman found guilty of being Hezbollah ‘sleeper’ agent
By Andrew Denney
May 16, 2019 | 7:51pm | Updated May 16, 2019 | 10:53pm

A former Uggs salesman with a rocky marriage has been found guilty of working as a “sleeper” agent for an arm of Hezbollah while living in the Bronx — helping the terror group prepare for attacks on New York City.

After less than a day of deliberations, a Manhattan federal jury found Bronx resident Ali Kourani, 34, guilty on eight counts that included providing support to Hezbollah, which carries up to life in prison.

Kourani, looking business casual in a rumpled white dress shirt and dark pants, sat motionless as the jury of eight women and four men rendered its verdict following a weeklong trial. He was hauled in on the charges in 2017 after he spilled his guts to the feds with hopes of becoming an informant — rather than a convicted felon facing a potential life sentence.

Kourani was born in Lebanon and immigrated to the United States legally in 2003, traveling back to Lebanon frequently in the years that followed. He was recruited into the Islamic Jihad Organization, an arm of Hezbollah, in 2008, and soon thereafter began working as a sleeper agent for the group, conducting surveillance on New York City airports and military facilities.

Among his surveillance targets were a Secret Service facility in Brooklyn and two military sites in Manhattan, as well as 26 Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan, which houses the FBI’s New York headquarters.

During this time Kourani also traveled to Lebanon to receive firearms and combat training.

But in 2016, during a trip to Lebanon, Kourani says members of Hezbollah fired bullets at his family’s home, and he decided to cooperate with the feds in exchange for financial support and immigration benefits for his relatives.

He met with two FBI agents five times at Seton Hall University School of Law with a defense attorney present, which prosecutors say amounted to five separate confessions. Prosecutors have also maintained that the agents never made any promises that Kourani wouldn’t face consequences himself.

His lawyer Alexei Schact said that he intends to appeal the ruling on the grounds that Kourani was lured into making statements to the agents based on “false statements” and thus his comments shouldn’t have been presented to the jury.

Judge Alvin Hellerstein set a Sept. 27 sentencing date.

“Mr. Kournai, I don’t know what the future will hold,” Hellerstein said as Kourani was led out of the courtroom.

 

[The Bobster]

https://nypost.com/2019/12/03/hezbollah-sleeper-agent-gets-40-years-for-spying-for-terror-networks/

Hezbollah ‘sleeper’ agent gets 40 years for spying for terror networks
By Emily Saul
December 3, 2019 | 6:07pm

A Hezbollah “sleeper” agent blasted the US government as ethically bankrupt Tuesday — before he was sentenced to 40 years behind bars for his role in the terrorist organization.

Ali Kourani told a Manhattan federal courtroom that prosecutors “violated all ethics” after he appeared on their doorstep volunteering information about Hezbollah — and was then charged for providing material support as a member of the Islamic Jihad Organization.

“I wonder what will be next?” the former Bronx resident hypothetically asked judge Alvin Hellerstein. “Dismembering dissidents in embassies? Turning sanctuary cities into black sites?”

Kourani’s conviction and sentence as a member of IJO is the first of its kind in the country, with a jury finding him guilty of spying on Hezbollah’s behalf between 2002 and 2015.

The 35-year-old, who referred to himself as “the child of a war,” was born in Lebanon but immigrated legally to the US in 2003 before settling in New York City where he surveilled Big Apple airports, federal buildings and military facilities — and sent reports back to higher-ups. Prosecutors claim he fraudulently obtained citizenship in order to participate in IJO attack-planning missions.

During his Tuesday statement, the former counterfeit Ugg salesman failed to express any remorse for his actions or affiliation with Hezbollah — which is considered a terrorism organization by the United States — and instead called it a “political party” as he continued to rail against “government overreach” and America’s “double standards.”

Hellerstein eventually intervened, interrupting Kourani’s monologue about his broken family to remind him he’d been convicted by a jury.

“It was not the government, the prosecutors, the CIA… who found you guilty,” the judge barked. “You can’t blame the government because you’re estranged from your wife and she divorced you and took the kids to Canada.”

Meanwhile, Assistant US Attorney Emil Bove asked Hellerstein to sentence Kourani to 110 years in prison, saying he needed to send a robust message to the IJO.

“This is a unique case,” Bove said as he encouraged a maximum sentence. “Your voice will be heard today in Lebanon by Hezbollah, your voice will be heard today by the leaders in Iran, who are directing IJO operatives.”

While sentencing guidelines recommended anywhere from 30 years to life sentence, the judge ultimately handed down 40 years, saying a sentence of that length would “create a condition where his useful life is spent in prison.”

Kourani will be deported following the completion of his sentence.

Defense attorney Alexei Schacht said he planned to appeal.