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St. Louis Post-Dispatch
ap-cs-03-15-05 2204est
Immigrants nabbed at NY hotel, charged with plot to smuggle missiles
By Michael Weissenstein
Associated Press
03/15/2005
NEW YORK (AP) -- Federal prosecutors charged Tuesday that a 26-year-old
Armenian immigrant led a plot to sell military weapons to an FBI informant
posing as a middleman for terrorists.
Other law enforcement officials, however, cast doubt on the danger posed by
Artur Solomonyan and his associates, who allegedly claimed to be able to
deliver rocket-propelled grenades, shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles
and other arms from the former Soviet Union.
"It's unclear if they were ever able to deliver on their promise on bringing
weapons of war into the United States," said one law enforcement official
familiar with the case, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "They were
earnest about trying to get them. They just never succeeded, and there was
no indication they would be able to succeed."
U.S. Attorney David Kelley said in an interview Tuesday that Solomonyan, his
South African partner, Christiaan Dewet Spies, and their associates were
serious threats who demonstrated a clear ability and intent to sell military
weaponry to the FBI informant.
The informant, a South African living in Texas, told the defendants he had
ties to al-Qaida, officials said.
"No one's saying they're the biggest arms dealers, but they demonstrated an
ability to obtain military weaponry and destructive devices, and we followed
that investigative lead," Kelley said. "We've taken some very bad people off
the street."
At least 17 people were arrested in the Los Angeles area, Florida and New
York in connection with the case.
Solomonyan, Spies and seven other defendants were ordered held without bail
Tuesday for allegedly conspiring to transport destructive devices, among
other charges.
Solomonyan's attorney, Louis Fasulo, said: "He's planning a vigorous
defense."
Spies' attorney declined to comment as he left federal court in Manhattan.
The informant contacted federal investigators last year after Spies offered
to obtain explosives and machine guns from his contacts in Russian organized
crime, according to a criminal complaint.
The gang of Armenians, Georgians, Russians and Americans arranged the sale
of eight assault weapons during the investigation, the complaint said.
They also gave the informant access to a password-protected Web site with
pictures of military weaponry that included the anti-aircraft missiles,
rocket-propelled grenades, a mortar launcher and recoilless anti-tank guns,
the complaint alleges.
Investigators said Solomonyan was recorded on wiretaps talking with
associates in the United States and the former Soviet Union about obtaining
the military weapons.
Solomonyan claimed he could obtain enriched uranium that "could be used in
the subway system," the complaint alleges. Kelley said he did not believe
Solomonyan could get uranium.
Solomonyan and Spies, 33, were arrested at a Manhattan hotel Monday night as
they met with the FBI informant, who had said he was bringing green cards so
the suspects, who are illegal aliens, could travel to obtain the weapons
overseas, officials said.
Solomonyan entered the United States six years ago on a cultural exchange
visa claiming he was a religious worker for the Church of Scientology,
according to law enforcement officials, also speaking on condition of
anonymity. He was living on the proceeds of Medicare fraud and other scams
as he carried out the weapons scheme, the officials said.
------
Associated Press Writers Pat Milton and Larry Neumeister contributed to this
report.
ap-cs-03-15-05 2204est
ap-cs-03-15-05 2204est
Immigrants nabbed at NY hotel, charged with plot to smuggle missiles
By Michael Weissenstein
Associated Press
03/15/2005
NEW YORK (AP) -- Federal prosecutors charged Tuesday that a 26-year-old
Armenian immigrant led a plot to sell military weapons to an FBI informant
posing as a middleman for terrorists.
Other law enforcement officials, however, cast doubt on the danger posed by
Artur Solomonyan and his associates, who allegedly claimed to be able to
deliver rocket-propelled grenades, shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles
and other arms from the former Soviet Union.
"It's unclear if they were ever able to deliver on their promise on bringing
weapons of war into the United States," said one law enforcement official
familiar with the case, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "They were
earnest about trying to get them. They just never succeeded, and there was
no indication they would be able to succeed."
U.S. Attorney David Kelley said in an interview Tuesday that Solomonyan, his
South African partner, Christiaan Dewet Spies, and their associates were
serious threats who demonstrated a clear ability and intent to sell military
weaponry to the FBI informant.
The informant, a South African living in Texas, told the defendants he had
ties to al-Qaida, officials said.
"No one's saying they're the biggest arms dealers, but they demonstrated an
ability to obtain military weaponry and destructive devices, and we followed
that investigative lead," Kelley said. "We've taken some very bad people off
the street."
At least 17 people were arrested in the Los Angeles area, Florida and New
York in connection with the case.
Solomonyan, Spies and seven other defendants were ordered held without bail
Tuesday for allegedly conspiring to transport destructive devices, among
other charges.
Solomonyan's attorney, Louis Fasulo, said: "He's planning a vigorous
defense."
Spies' attorney declined to comment as he left federal court in Manhattan.
The informant contacted federal investigators last year after Spies offered
to obtain explosives and machine guns from his contacts in Russian organized
crime, according to a criminal complaint.
The gang of Armenians, Georgians, Russians and Americans arranged the sale
of eight assault weapons during the investigation, the complaint said.
They also gave the informant access to a password-protected Web site with
pictures of military weaponry that included the anti-aircraft missiles,
rocket-propelled grenades, a mortar launcher and recoilless anti-tank guns,
the complaint alleges.
Investigators said Solomonyan was recorded on wiretaps talking with
associates in the United States and the former Soviet Union about obtaining
the military weapons.
Solomonyan claimed he could obtain enriched uranium that "could be used in
the subway system," the complaint alleges. Kelley said he did not believe
Solomonyan could get uranium.
Solomonyan and Spies, 33, were arrested at a Manhattan hotel Monday night as
they met with the FBI informant, who had said he was bringing green cards so
the suspects, who are illegal aliens, could travel to obtain the weapons
overseas, officials said.
Solomonyan entered the United States six years ago on a cultural exchange
visa claiming he was a religious worker for the Church of Scientology,
according to law enforcement officials, also speaking on condition of
anonymity. He was living on the proceeds of Medicare fraud and other scams
as he carried out the weapons scheme, the officials said.
------
Associated Press Writers Pat Milton and Larry Neumeister contributed to this
report.
ap-cs-03-15-05 2204est