Local
Records: Scheme to smuggle guns, visas uncovered
By: Freeman Klopott
Examiner Staff Writer
November 12, 2008
An FBI informant helped agents uncover a visa fraud and gun smuggling scheme run by two Annandale men, one of whom told the informant he could sell him a missile that “can reach the Pentagon,” according to a sworn statement unsealed Monday.
The investigation started when the informant met with Amjad Hamed, a Jordanian native and legal U.S. resident since 1978, in Hamed’s Annandale home in April 2006, the affidavit said. Hamed reportedly asked the informant to obtain visas for six associates who wanted to immigrate to the U.S. from Jordan and the West Bank.
Hamed reportedly told the informant that three of the of the six passports and visas were for people who had been arrested by the Israeli government. Hamed added that he had been jailed in Israel three times. Months later, between May 2007 and June 2007, Hamed sold three firearms — a fully automatic AR-15 assault rifle and two handguns, one with a serial number scratched off — to the informant, the affidavit said.
In June 2007, the two met in an Annandale parking lot, where the informant asked about buying a missile. “When I say missile, it is with everything ... with the controls if you want you can reach the Pentagon,” the affidavit said Hamed responded. In August 2007, the informant met with Hamed’s cousin Ibrahim Hamed, a Jordanian immigrant living legally in the U.S. since 1989. Ibrahim has been charged with transporting a firearm with an obliterated serial number across state lines. Amjad has been charged with conspiracy to commit visa fraud.
Gregory Stambough, Ibrahim Hamed’s attorney, said the affidavit was “overblown” and “is not really reflective of the events as they actually took place.” Amjad Hamed’s attorney did not return calls Tuesday. Both men are being held without bail.
The investigation started when the informant met with Amjad Hamed, a Jordanian native and legal U.S. resident since 1978, in Hamed’s Annandale home in April 2006, the affidavit said. Hamed reportedly asked the informant to obtain visas for six associates who wanted to immigrate to the U.S. from Jordan and the West Bank.
Hamed reportedly told the informant that three of the of the six passports and visas were for people who had been arrested by the Israeli government. Hamed added that he had been jailed in Israel three times. Months later, between May 2007 and June 2007, Hamed sold three firearms — a fully automatic AR-15 assault rifle and two handguns, one with a serial number scratched off — to the informant, the affidavit said.
In June 2007, the two met in an Annandale parking lot, where the informant asked about buying a missile. “When I say missile, it is with everything ... with the controls if you want you can reach the Pentagon,” the affidavit said Hamed responded. In August 2007, the informant met with Hamed’s cousin Ibrahim Hamed, a Jordanian immigrant living legally in the U.S. since 1989. Ibrahim has been charged with transporting a firearm with an obliterated serial number across state lines. Amjad has been charged with conspiracy to commit visa fraud.
Gregory Stambough, Ibrahim Hamed’s attorney, said the affidavit was “overblown” and “is not really reflective of the events as they actually took place.” Amjad Hamed’s attorney did not return calls Tuesday. Both men are being held without bail.
