Man charged with lying in missing Somalis case

By AMY FORLITI , Associated Press

Last update: October 13, 2009 - 6:52 PM

ST. PAUL, Minn. - A Minnesota man is accused of lying to FBI agents investigating the disappearance of as many as 20 young Somali men who left Minnesota to possibly fight with a terrorist group in their homeland.

Abdow M. Abdow, a U.S. citizen of Somali descent, was arrested Friday and charged by criminal complaint with one count of making false statements. Abdow, 26, of Chanhassen, made his first appearance Tuesday in U.S. District Court in St. Paul.

The case is related to the government's ongoing investigation into the missing Somali men, said FBI spokesman E.K. Wilson, although he did not say how. Three other men have pleaded guilty to terror-related charges.

Adbow's attorney, Frederick Goetz, noted his client has not yet been indicted by a federal grand jury.

According to the criminal complaint and information in court, Abdow lied to FBI agents about renting a vehicle last week and driving to Nevada with four people, some of whom left the U.S.

The complaint by FBI Special Agent Michael Cannizzaro Jr. said Abdow was stopped by the Nevada Highway Patrol on Oct. 6. During the traffic stop, he and four other occupants said they were heading to San Diego for a friend's wedding, but they all gave different stories about how they knew each other and who was getting married.

The complaint said two of the passengers went to the U.S.-Mexico border crossing at San Ysidro, south of San Diego on Thursday. They told a U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Officer they were flying from Tijuana to Mexico City and showed airline tickets, the complaint said. The complaint did not say whether these individuals ever made the trip, and the FBI declined to comment.

FBI agents also questioned Abdow on Thursday about a missing persons report filed by his wife and about a car he rented. He told authorities he rented the car after a fight with his wife and left Minnesota for Las Vegas with just one other friend, the complaint said.

"Abdow went on to tell agents that they did not have any problems along the way, did not stop anywhere, and did not encounter anyone else during the drive," the complaint said.

When Abdow was told it was a crime to lie to federal agents, he said there were three more people with him but that he didn't know their real names, the complaint said.

Abdow then told agents he didn't know anything, that he didn't know who paid for the rental car, and that he did nothing wrong, saying "whatever those guys are into I'm not," the complaint said. On Friday, the FBI determined Abdow rented a car on Oct. 5 and that it was paid for with his Visa debit card.

Folk argued in court that Adbow should be detained because of his actions before his arrest and because he was obstructing justice. Goetz argued for Abdow's release, saying he was not a violent offender, had no criminal history, and had ties to the community.

Federal Magistrate Judge Janie S. Mayeron ruled Adbow would be released to a halfway house once a bed becomes available.

Adbow's next court appearance is set for Oct. 27.

Over the last two years, as many as 20 young Somalis have left Minnesota and returned to Somalia to possibly fight with the terror group al-Shabab, which the U.S. says has links to al-Qaida. At least three have died, including one who authorities believe is the first American suicide bomber.

Somalia has not had a functioning government since 1991.