Federal officials have charged an Ohio man in connection with a plot to murder former United States President George W. Bush, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office Southern District of Ohio.The new details were unsealed at a federal courthouse.FBI officials said they have charged 52-year-old Shihab Ahmed Shihab Shihab Tuesday and he appeared in federal court at 2:30 p.m. Federal officials said Shihab originally came to the United States in September 2020 on a visitor visa.Then, in March 2021, he applied for asylum with United States citizenship, which is pending review. During his time in the U.S., he lived in both Columbus and Indianapolis and worked at markets and restaurants in both cities, federal officials said.In the unsealed documents, it’s alleged that Shihab exchanged money with others in an attempt to illegally bring foreign nationals to the United States.In August 2021, Shihab allegedly intended to help who he thought was another Iraqi citizen enter the United States for a fee of $40,000. He provided specific instructions on how he would smuggle the person into the county after 60 days. In October and December 2021, federal officials said Shihab accepted tens of thousands of dollars for the purported smuggling.Federal officials said in the release that in reality, the Iraqi citizen he was trying to smuggle in was fake and the interaction was coordinated under the direction of the FBI.The charging document also alleges that Shihab planned to smuggle four more Iraqi foreign nationals into the country in an attempt to kill former President George W. Bush in retaliation for Iraqi deaths during “Operation Iraqi Freedom,” federal officials stated in the release.Shihab then allegedly planned to smuggle the four out of the United States via the Mexico border after they carried out the assassination.Shihab also allegedly traveled to Dallas in February 2022 to conduct surveillance of locations associated with the former president. In March 2022, it is alleged Shihab met with others in a hotel room in Columbus, to look at sample firearms and law enforcement uniforms.Attempting to illegally bring an individual into the United States is a federal crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison, federal officials state. Aiding and abetting the attempted murder of a former United States Official carries a potential prison sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
Federal officials have charged an Ohio man in connection with a plot to murder former United States President George W. Bush, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office Southern District of Ohio.
The new details were unsealed at a federal courthouse.
FBI officials said they have charged 52-year-old Shihab Ahmed Shihab Shihab Tuesday and he appeared in federal court at 2:30 p.m.
Federal officials said Shihab originally came to the United States in September 2020 on a visitor visa.
Then, in March 2021, he applied for asylum with United States citizenship, which is pending review.
During his time in the U.S., he lived in both Columbus and Indianapolis and worked at markets and restaurants in both cities, federal officials said.
In the unsealed documents, it’s alleged that Shihab exchanged money with others in an attempt to illegally bring foreign nationals to the United States.
In August 2021, Shihab allegedly intended to help who he thought was another Iraqi citizen enter the United States for a fee of $40,000. He provided specific instructions on how he would smuggle the person into the county after 60 days. In October and December 2021, federal officials said Shihab accepted tens of thousands of dollars for the purported smuggling.
Federal officials said in the release that in reality, the Iraqi citizen he was trying to smuggle in was fake and the interaction was coordinated under the direction of the FBI.
The charging document also alleges that Shihab planned to smuggle four more Iraqi foreign nationals into the country in an attempt to kill former President George W. Bush in retaliation for Iraqi deaths during “Operation Iraqi Freedom,” federal officials stated in the release.
Shihab then allegedly planned to smuggle the four out of the United States via the Mexico border after they carried out the assassination.
Shihab also allegedly traveled to Dallas in February 2022 to conduct surveillance of locations associated with the former president. In March 2022, it is alleged Shihab met with others in a hotel room in Columbus, to look at sample firearms and law enforcement uniforms.
Attempting to illegally bring an individual into the United States is a federal crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison, federal officials state. Aiding and abetting the attempted murder of a former United States Official carries a potential prison sentence of up to 20 years in prison.