Mohamad Hammoud, 28, was the first person tried in the United States under a 1996 federal law banning material support to "terrorist" organizations. He was convicted of conspiring to provide material support to Hezbollah. He faces life imprisonment. Chawki Hammoud, 37, while not charged under the 1996 law, was accused and convicted of being part of a racketeering conspiracy and being a member of Hezbollah. He faces up to 14 years in prison.

"It’s a great victory for America," lead prosecutor, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Bell, claimed after the verdict.

Bell’s boss, U.S. Attorney Bob Conrad, claimed "the fact that there was a terrorist fund-raising cell in Charlotte means there are terrorist fund-raising cells operating in other cities. He boasted that "the success we had in this case will encourage similar prosecutions."

After a four-week trial, the jury deliberated for three days. On the last day of deliberations the jury let the judge know they were deadlocked.

The atmosphere and conduct of the trial, and the laundry list of charges themselves, gave the impression that the two were already guilty of the most violent of crimes.

The government brought the Hammoud brothers to court in an armored truck. The names of jurors were kept secret and they were picked up at a secret location each day and transported by marshals to and from the courthouse. The Hammoud’s were not charged with any acts of terrorism or violence.

Much of the alleged "evidence" presented by the prosecution involved the political views of the defendants and had nothing to do with financial support to Hezbollah. For example, video tapes of the struggle in Lebanon were shown with crowds chanting "Death to America, Death to Israel."

One of the central pieces of "evidence" presented by the government was a letter sent to Mohamad Hammoud that prosecutors say was found in his home. According to the government, the letter says, "As you know, Brother Mohamad, the Resistance is always in need of your support. If there was an opportunity for you to work as you did at the end of the gatherings, donate to the Resistance, and when one of the guys is coming to Lebanon, especially here in the south, they need your support."

Sentencing of the two brothers will take place in three to four months.  
 
 
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home