Mo. businessman faces up to 65 years in prison after admitting sending money to al-Quaida

Mo. businessman admits sending money to al-Quaida

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A Kansas City auto parts dealer faces up to 65 years in federal prison after admitting he sent money to al-Qaida.

Khalid Ouazzani pleaded guilty Wednesday to bank fraud, money laundering and conspiracy to provide financial support to a terrorist organization.

The 32-year-old native of Morocco had been a U.S. citizen for less than a year when he took out a loan that he said was for his business.

He admitted Wednesday that he instead wired nearly $113,000 to a bank account in the United Arab Emirates to buy an apartment there.

Eventually, he said, he began funneling money to al-Qaida. In all, he admitted sending $23,500 to al-Qaida between August 2007 and mid-2008.