Article

2006-05-18 Home Front: WoT

AZ man admits he tried to smuggle Iran national across Mexican border

A Mesa man has admitted in federal court that he tried to smuggle an illegal immigrant from Iran across the U.S.-Mexico border. FBI agents arrested Zeayadali Malhamdary and raided his tailor shop May 26 [2005?] after an undercover investigation found he tried to obtain Mexican visas for Iranians so they could fly into Mexico and then cross the border. Malhamdary has admitted to friends he crossed the Mexico border illegally in 1998 to escape religious persecution in Iran, whose official religion is the Shiite branch of Islam. He was granted refugee status in February 1999.

Hmm. This part of the story could use a little more in-depth reporting...

Under Monday's plea deal, sentencing will be up to the judge on Aug. 14 although the document does not state a particular range. Had Malhamdary been convicted at trial he could have gone to prison from five to 35 years. According to Monday's plea deal, Malhamdary admitted that around September 2004, he began negotiating with someone to bring a group of Iranian nationals to the U.S. He eventually agreed to supply authentic Iranian passports to the person, who turned out to be an undercover agent with the U.S. Border Patrol, and he would arrange to have the Mexican visas placed into the passports so the Iranians could fly into Mexico. Malhamdary admitted that he went to Iran in March 2005 and returned with three passports, which he gave to the agent.

I thought he asked for asylum on grounds he was persecuted in Iran and feared for his life? So how is he able to casually jet from Arizona to Tehran and get a handful of authentic Iranian passports? I recommend deportation immediately after serving his sentence.

Posted by Seafarious 2006-05-18 01:11|| || Front Page|| [11133 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 If he is connected with any apparatus of the Iranian government including its terrorist arms or any third party terrorist organization, I would recommend staking him out in the Arizona desert and then deporting the remains....

Posted by DanNY 2006-05-18 07:00|| 2006-05-18 07:00|| Front Page Top

#2 I'm relieved to know he's got a solid traditional Arizona family name.

Posted by eniac 2006-05-18 07:44|| 2006-05-18 07:44|| Front Page Top

#3 #2 Apaches have family names?

Posted by gromgoru 2006-05-18 07:50|| 2006-05-18 07:50|| Front Page Top

#4 Not everyone in AZ is an Apache, of course, since we have a giant human fondue thing going on here, but you could start with the Italian Apaches, such as Joe Arpaio. :)

Posted by eniac 2006-05-18 08:08|| 2006-05-18 08:08|| Front Page Top

#5 i've heard of smuggling cheaply-made handbags but this is ridiculous

Posted by ordu 2006-05-18 09:33|| 2006-05-18 09:33|| Front Page Top

#6 Sometime ago, they denied a KLM flight over US airspace, enroute to Mexico City, because it had suspicious Saudis on board. The plane has specialized stalls for live animal transport, and some Saudi diplomat in residence there wanted his horse. Iraqis and Pakistanis have also been intercepted. Mexico has become a staging ground. The Mexican government is at war with us, and they have the gall to threaten to sue if we protect our own borders with troops!

Posted by Danielle 2006-05-18 11:18|| 2006-05-18 11:18|| Front Page Top

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