Mohammed Zazi Appears in U.S. District Court in Denver for Initial Appearance

DENVER—Mohammed Zazi, age 53, of Aurora, Colorado, appeared this afternoon in U.S. District Court in Denver for an initial appearance and arraignment on his recently obtained indictment. The indictment, returned yesterday by a federal grand jury in Denver, charges Mohammed Zazi with making a false statement in a matter involving international and domestic terrorism. Zazi appeared this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Craig B. Shaffer, who read the indictment at Zazi’s lawyer’s request. Magistrate Judge Shaffer then advised Zazi of his rights and the penalties associated with the indictment. Zazi then entered a pro-forma not guilty plea to the charge through his attorney. A Pashtun interpreter was present during the hearing. The case will now proceed before Senior Tenth Circuit Court Judge David M. Ebel.  Judge Ebel has set a tentative trial date of December 7, 2009.

If found guilty of the false statement in a terrorism matter charge, Zazi faces not more than eight years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both. Zazi was released on his original $50,000 unsecured bond with the continued condition of electronic monitoring.

The charges contained in the indictment are allegations, and Zazi is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.