N.J. software developer eyed U.S. targets for terror attacks, feds say at trial openings

NEW YORK — A prosecutor informed jurors in an opening assertion Monday that a New Jersey software package developer was really a hugely qualified terrorist scoping out U.S. landmarks for assault from 2000 to 2005.

Alexei Saab, 45, of Morristown, experienced a double id while he worked for Hezbollah’s Islamic Jihad Business, completely ready to attack People at common places if Iran was attacked by the U.S., explained Assistant U.S. Legal professional Samuel Adelsberg.

By day, Saab was a computer software engineer operating for technologies companies who in shape in ample that he turned a U.S. citizen, the prosecutor reported.

By night, he was “a terrorist and spy” scoping out prospective terrorism targets in New York, Boston, Washington, D.C., and overseas in France, Turkey and the Czech Republic, Adelsberg claimed.

Saab was arrested in July 2019 soon after becoming questioned all through 11 sessions above various months with FBI brokers.

Saab’s attorney, Marlon Kirton, explained all the evidence in the case was from Saab himself and could not be considered dependable.

And he famous that Hezbollah experienced under no circumstances attacked People in the United States.

In court documents, investigators claimed Saab advised agents he took photographs of properties and places such as Quincy Current market and the Prudential Middle in Boston and the Capitol Setting up, Congress and the White Household in Washington, D.C. A video clip of Fenway Park was recovered from 1 of Saab’s electronic products.

Adelsberg claimed the targets researched by Saab included Rockefeller Centre, Grand Central Terminal, all a few New York spot airports, the Brooklyn, Triborough and George Washington bridges and the Lincoln and Holland tunnels connecting New Jersey to Manhattan, among the other spots.

“On paper, he lived a standard everyday living when in truth he was a sleeper agent for Hezbollah,” he said.

Besides surveillance functions in the United States, Adelsberg stated Saab also operated abroad just after becoming a member of Hezbollah in 1996. He reported Saab attempted to eliminate a male he afterwards comprehended to be a suspected Israeli spy by pointing a weapon at the person at shut array, but the firearm jammed.

Saab is also facing a relationship fraud cost for allegedly marrying a co-conspirator in 2012 beneath false pretenses. Saab’s lawyer did not contest that demand.

Saab has pleaded not guilty to costs like providing product aid to a overseas terrorist corporation, conspiracy, acquiring military services-form education from a foreign terrorist group, illegal procurement of citizenship to aid international terrorism and citizenship application fraud.

The most significant charge carries a greatest possible penalty of 25 a long time in jail, even though the prices collectively carry opportunity penalties of more than 100 years in prison.