A Canadian citizen stopped at the Peace Bridge on Christmas Eve has been charged with conspiring to spy for his native Iraq under Saddam Hussein.
The 47-year-old man crossed the bridge on Christmas Eve and was referred to secondary inspection by agents with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
At that time, the border guards became aware of an FBI warrant, said Kevin Corsaro, U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman.
FBI agents arrested the man, an Iraqi-born Canadian citizen, at the bridge.
The U.S. Department of Justice is not releasing where the suspect, formerly of Maryland, was living at the time of his arrest.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland and the Assistant Attorney General for National Security alleges the suspect had been receiving payments from the Iraqi Intelligence Service (IIS) in exchange for information since 2000.
One document indicates the man told IIS officers that Iraqi volunteers were being trained by the U.S. military in Virginia.
He also is alleged to have told his conspirators about his employment activities at the Iraqi Embassy and the ongoing activities of the Iraqi ambassador and other Iraqi government officials who were associated with the interim government following the downfall of the Saddam Hussein regime.
U.S. law enforcement officials learned of his work for the Iraqi government after American troops seized IIS documents following the invasion of Iraq by coalition forces in March 2003, U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein of Maryland and Patrick Rowan, assistant attorney general for national security, said in a statement.
Mouyad Mahmoud Darwish faces charges of conspiring to act as an agent of a foreign government.
He faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
Local News
CUSTOMS: Suspected Saddam spy nabbed at Peace Bridge
- Local News
-
-
Niagara woman is fooled by ‘phisher’
Caller was able to infiltrate her computer.
-
Canal Fest, city spar over closing time
Police chief, council members debate 11 p.m. closing time.
-
Overdue update to take place
Aging water tank to get needed repairs.
-
Bill would ban offenders
Would hold monitors to the same standards as drivers.
-
Home care agency sale OK’d
Vote to turn business over to Catholic Health is unanimous.
-
Dead Lockport man had been going to Vegas
Mark Dunham’s body found Wednesday; exposure listed as cause of death.
-
Ice Ice Babies
Members of the Queen City Roller Girls’ junior team ready for first bout
-
Council vacancy takes its toll
Still no decision on whether to OK recount of Third Ward votes.
-
Union deal finally solidified
Common council approves deal with CSEA.
-
Town cop faces disciplinary action
Assessor chosen; meeting scheduled over Amigone crematory.
- More Local News Headlines
-






