The Bobster
Senior News Editor since 2004
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.
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.
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