International Arms Dealer and Cohort Convicted on Terrorism Offenses

Defendants believed they were selling weapons to members of the FARC (pictured above).

NOV 20 -- MICHELE M. LEONHART, the Acting Administrator of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration ("DEA"), and MICHAEL J. GARCIA, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that international arms dealer MONZER AL KASSAR, a/k/a "Abu Munawar," a/k/a "El Taous," and his associate, LUIS FELIPE MORENO GODOY, were convicted today following a three-week jury trial before United States District Judge JED S. RAKOFF in Manhattan federal court. The defendants were found guilty on all charges: conspiracy to murder U.S. nationals; conspiracy to murder U.S. officers and employees; conspiracy to acquire and export anti-aircraft missiles; conspiracy to provide material support and resources to the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (the "FARC"), a designated foreign terrorist organization; and money laundering. Today’s convictions represent the first time anyone has been charged with and convicted of the anti-aircraft missile statute.

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