A former University of Alabama student is facing terrorism charges for attempting to provide material support and resources to a terrorist organization, al-Qaeda.
Alaa Abusaad, 22, is accused of directing an FBI undercover agent how to send money to the terrorist group without being noticed.
On Monday, Abusaad appeared before a federal court for a decision on whether or not to hold her in jail until the trial is over.
In the court filings, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Alabama, alleges her of telling the undercover agent that money, “is always needed. You can’t have a war without weapons. You can’t prepare a soldier without equipment.”
She was indicted by a grand jury in the first week of November. If held guilty, the maximum penalty is 20 years in jail or a life term of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.
“Federal agents and prosecutors are working tirelessly and using every available lawful tool to disrupt the evil schemes of those who would support foreign terrorist organizations to do harm to our troops, our allies, or our homeland,” Jay E. Town, United States Attorney, said last month.
Abusaad was arrested in October from Sylvania, Ohio, and is presently held in Shelby County Jail.
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