Pubdate: Fri, 05 Apr 2002
Source: Denver Post (CO)
Copyright: 2002 The Denver Post Corp
Contact:  http://www.denverpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/122
Author: Howard Pankratz

DEA ROLE MAY PUT END TO CASE

Friday, April 05, 2002 - A federal judge threatened Thursday to dismiss the 
case against a leader of a smuggling and money-laundering operation because 
of the "interference" of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Three months ago, U.S. District Judge Daniel Sparr gave Hassan Zaghmot, a 
44-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen, permission to travel to his native 
Syria to be with his dying mother. Under the agreement, Zaghmot was to 
return to Denver this week to be sentenced. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy 
to distribute a key ingredient in the manufacture of methamphetamines.

But Zaghmot can't return, Sparr was told Thursday, because he is 
purportedly under investigation by Syrian authorities for his illegal 
activities in the United States. Syrian officials have also seized 
Zaghmot's passport.

During the hearing, Sparr was told the DEA tipped Syrian authorities that 
Zaghmot might be returning to that country with money gained through 
illegal activities in the United States. The DEA also incorrectly told 
Syrian authorities that Zaghmot had received a 10- year prison term.

Sparr, who wanted to impose a sentence, was irate that the DEA injected 
itself into the situation. He threatened to dismiss the case.

"I'd like to know why (the DEA) is exercising authority, or trying to 
exercise authority, over a defendant in my case," Sparr said. "This man 
pleaded guilty. I'd just like to get this done without any more 
interference by the DEA.

"Unless the government gets this case moving along, I'm going to dismiss 
it," said Sparr.

He told Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Rhodes to file a report in 15 days 
updating efforts by the U.S. government to obtain Zaghmot's return and his 
status in Syria.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart