Ohio Highway Patrol trooper hailed for efforts in Terrorism Task Force

7/18/2008

COLUMBUS - An Ohio Highway Patrol trooper has been honored for his role in the investigation that ultimately led to the conviction of three men for terrorism-related crimes.

Trooper Kent Stambaugh, 51, of Bowling Green received a certificate of recognition during a ceremony Wednesday at the patrol's academy in Columbus.

Trooper Stambaugh, as part of the FBI's Northern Ohio Joint Terrorism Task Force, worked with other agencies and collected critical information that helped lead to the arrests of Mohammad Amawi, 28; Marwan El-Hindi, 45, and Wassim Mazloum, 27, patrol officials said.

The three men were convicted last month by a jury in U.S. District Court in Toledo of conspiracy to commit terrorist acts overseas. All three face possible life terms in prison.

Trooper Stambaugh has been affiliated with the highway patrol's Toledo district office of investigations since June, 1997, and since March, 2002, has been part of the joint terrorism task force.

A graduate of Springfield High School, he was commissioned as a state trooper in September, 1988.