Additional terror charges against Toledo men dismissed

7/17/2008

U.S. District Court Judge James Carr yesterday issued an order granting the government's motion to dismiss additional charges against two of three men recently convicted of terrorism-related charges.

Mohammad Amawi, 28, was charged with two counts of threatening President Bush; Marwan El-Hindi, 45, was charged with one count of making false statements.

The government filed a motion Tuesday requesting that the charges be dismissed.

Amawi, El-Hindi, and co-defendant Wassim Mazloum, 27, were convicted June 11 after a lengthy jury trial of conspiracy to commit terrorist acts overseas.

Amawi and El-Hindi also were convicted of disseminating information regarding explosives.

All three men, who are of Middle Eastern descent, face up to life in prison.

A sentencing date has not yet been set.

In the government's motion to dismiss, federal prosecutors noted that they will seek life sentences for the men and that pursuing convictions in the remaining cases "would not be a prudent, economic use of judicial resources."

El-Hindi still faces charges of defrauding the government in a separate case.